Wasim Akram reveals that he requested Babar Azam to come down at number 3 and try something different
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has now revealed that he once asked Babar to leave his opening slot while playing for Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Karachi Kings.
Pakistan’s one-run misfortune against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup Super 12 stage has opened a pandora’s box and former cricketers are slamming the side left, right, and center.
The Babar Azam-drove side couldn’t pursue 130 against Zimbabwe and thus it is extremely challenging for Pakistan to qualify for the semi-finals. The side needs other results to turn out well for them to solidify their spot in the last-four stage of the tournament.
Pakistan’s middle order has been blamed for over one year now and there have been calls for either Babar Azam or Mohammad Rizwan to bat in the middle order and leave their opener slot.
Former captain Wasim Akram has now revealed that he once asked Babar to leave his opening slot while playing for Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Karachi Kings.
“I have been through this by the way with Babar, at Karachi Kings. In the team we had a couple of bad seasons and I requested him once or twice nicely, that please come down at number 3, we’ll try something different,”
Wasim Akram said on A Sports show – The Pavillion.
“Let Martin Guptill bat at the top, seeing he is an opener. And he (Babar) said I would not go down, you ask Sharjeel to bat at 3, and he (Sharjeel) is a natural opener too. And these little things that the captain does, the team senses too,”
he added.
Further talking about opening the batting, Akram said:
“All of these things begin at the top. And at the top is your captain. If your captain plays for himself and is insecure. If your captain scores run and let other batters play at his position, you get to know that your captain is ready to sacrifice himself for you, this Babar has to learn.”
Pakistan will next face the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup on Sunday at Optus Stadium, Perth. Now, Pakistan needs to win all their upcoming game in the mega event to still be alive in the semi-final race.
Pakistan Squad for World Cup: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood.
Standby Players: Usman Qadir, Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani.