“Former Indian skipper Azharuddin gives his take on Babar Azam’s position in T20 cricket, suggesting that the young batsman may be carrying the extra burden of leadership and is not a natural opener. Azharuddin highlighted in an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan that it would be more beneficial for Babar and Mohammad Rizwan to bat in the middle order, using up more overs to build a strong foundation. The former captain stated that Babar’s batting skills are not in question, but his placement in the lineup could have a significant impact on his performance.”
Solution for Babar’s batting struggle
According to Azharuddin, “Babar Azam may be overburdened by the responsibility of leadership and is not a natural opener, making it difficult for him to score runs if out of form. However, there is no problem with him batting at lower numbers in T20 cricket.” He further stated, “While both Virat Kohli and Babar Azam are players of their own style, Kohli’s vast experience makes him slightly better than Babar Azam.” Azharuddin emphasized that although leadership may have affected Babar Azam’s form in the T20 World Cup, his overall performance is still impressive.
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Mohammad Azharuddin, former Indian captain, said that comparing Shaheen Shah Afridi with former Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram is not justified. Azharuddin stated, “It is not fair to compare Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has played very little cricket, with Wasim Akram.”
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Talking about the current era of cricket, Azharuddin emphasized that there are more options for formats and player selection. “Cricketers today are simultaneously active in various events including leagues, so our era cannot be compared to today’s cricket,” he explained. However, he acknowledged that there are still many big names who are playing well today.
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Regarding the upcoming World Cup, Azharuddin believes that teams will try to experiment with their combinations in the available matches. He also stated that the upcoming ILT20 league will provide cricketers with ample opportunities to showcase their skills and improve their game. “The league will be the perfect platform for cricketers to demonstrate their abilities,” he concluded.
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