Babar Azam, the batsman, has been advised by renowned Pakistani left-arm pace bowler Wasim Akram to put “the captaincy baggage behind” and concentrate on making runs.
After his team was eliminated from the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, Azam announced his resignation as captain. In nine matches, including four fifty-score innings, he amassed 320 runs at an average of forty.
Since the 29-year-old has not been living up to expectations with the bat over the past few months, Wasim noted that it’s time he works on fixing the problems so that he can get back to his best.
“Babar Azam has to learn how to focus as a batter and score runs, leaving the captaincy baggage behind. It is easier said than done,” he said on A Sports as quoted by NDTV.
Pakistan kicked off their campaign with back-to-back wins over the Netherlands and Sri Lanka before losing four in a row to India, Australia, Afghanistan and South Africa.
Despite fighting back to take down Bangladesh and New Zealand, they could not make it through to the semi-finals.
The men in green ended their campaign in dismal fashion as England battered them by 93 runs.
Azam will now play for Pakistan in their three-match Test series against Australia, which starts on December 14 in Perth.
Pakistan Squad for Australia Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi
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He’ll score easily. Mohammad Rizwan selects a rapidly improving batsman from Pakistan
Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan is confident middle order batsman Saud Shakeel will be able to “score quickly” if he keeps playing his natural game.
Shakeel has been one of the standout players for Pakistan over the past couple of months as he has been a dominant force in Test cricket, scoring 875 runs in seven matches, which includes two centuries and six fifties, at an average of 87.50.
Having noticed the talent he possesses, the national selectors added him to the ODI team and he has brought some stability to the middle order, which had been a weak spot for the men in green.
In the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, the 28-year-old amassed 241 runs in nine games, which included two fifties, at an average of 34.42.
Considering his strike-rate in the tournament was 97.96, Rizwan noted that if Shakeel keeps on playing like he has, the runs will come thick and fast for him.
“If he plays like he normally does, he’ll be fine and score quickly,” he told ESPNcricinfo as quoted by Geo Super.
Pakistan kicked off their campaign with wins over the Netherlands and Sri Lanka before stumbling against India, Australia, Afghanistan and South Africa.
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