Babar Azam led Pakistan’s journey in the 2023 World Cup has hit a rough patch, marked by a significant defeat to Afghanistan that left their semi-final aspirations hanging by a thread. This unexpected loss not only shattered Pakistan’s perfect record against Afghanistan in ODIs but also plunged them into a precarious situation in the tournament’s points table.
With a negative Net Run Rate, their path to the knockout stage is laden with uncertainty. The defeat against Afghanistan unveiled several chinks in Pakistan’s armour, most notably their lacklustre performance on the field. The spotlight turned to skipper Babar Azam, who faced criticism for his captaincy decisions, characterized as overly defensive.
Amidst this turmoil, a sensational piece of advice from former cricketer Basit Ali emerged, comparing Babar Azam to the renowned Virat Kohli. Basit Ali suggested that, like Virat Kohli, Babar Azam should consider relinquishing his captaincy. He cited Kohli’s decision to step down from captaincy as a positive move that led to improved individual performance.
He further said: “I told one year ago on my channel that Babar Azam is a very good batter. He should quit captaincy, just like Virat Kohli did. Virat stepped down and looked at his performances. His performance will become better, for sure,” Basit Ali told ARY News. “But, as we all know, certain people on social media twisted my words, saying I don’t like Babar Azam and I am a traitor.”
Babar Azam needs to step up with the bat
However, this advice was marred by social media misinterpretation, with some accusing Basit Ali of disliking Babar Azam and labelling him a traitor. Amid this controversy, Babar Azam remains resolute and claims not to be burdened by the weight of captaincy affecting his batting.
In the recent match against Afghanistan, he demonstrated his prowess as a batsman by scoring 74 runs, emerging as the team’s highest run-scorer. Nevertheless, his form has been inconsistent throughout the tournament, with just two half-centuries in five matches. The situation in the Pakistan camp is undoubtedly tense, with the team grappling to find the right balance between captaincy responsibilities and individual performance.
As they face a challenging path to secure a semi-final spot, they must regroup, address their weaknesses, and hope for other results to favour their campaign. The words of Basit Ali, despite being twisted by some, have opened up a discussion on the complexities of leadership and performance in the high-pressure world of international cricket.
It remains to be seen whether Babar Azam will take a page from Virat Kohli’s book and consider the impact of captaincy on his performance, as Pakistan fights to keep its World Cup dreams alive.
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