'Tops In Class But Fails In Matric' - Ex Pakistan Cricketers Slam Babar Azam
Babar Azam has a strike-rate of 82.69 at World Cup 2023 (AP Photo)
Former Pakistan cricketers Abdul Razzaq and Sikander Bakht criticised Babar Azam's playing approach at the crease in a disappointing ICC World Cup 2023 campaign for the modern-day giant and gave an interesting analogy about the contemporary skipper.
Speaking on Pakistan-based 'Geo Super', Bhakt and Razzaq came to the conclusion that Babar is similar to the student who "tops in class but fails in matric", alluding to the cricketer's consistent performances in bilateral assignments but a sub-par run of displays at the multi-national tournament in India.
Babar, who had entered the marquee competition in high regard and expectations from fans of potentially establishing himself as a world-beater with a string of dominant performances, has held a brittle and vulnerable presence at the crease over eight innings now.
The Pakistan captain has made four half-centuries and boasts of 282 runs but has struck those at a low-key average of 40.28 in a high-scoring tournament while going at a slowish rate of 82.69. Even as Pakistan came out triumphant in their must-win clash over New Zealand, Babar's innings of 66 off 63 had fallen under scrutiny for its slow pick-up when the Asian giants were striving to get ahead on DLS.
Ex-Pakistan cricketers lambast Babar Azam
"We kept talking about No 1 batter in the World. I want to ask whether it helps in getting good contracts," Bhakt said. "Aisa lag raha hai ye class mey No 1 and matric ke imtihaan mey fail (It looks like he tops in the class but fails in the matric exam)."
Razzaq went to the extent of saying Babar is not yet a world-class batsman and needs to focus on his intent, potentially try to replicate the manner in which India's experienced opener and skipper Rohit Sharma has been batting influentially at the top of the order.
"No 1 batter is Fakhar Zaman. All New Zealand batters were praising him. Our captain doesn’t have that class. Look at Rohit, he is ready to score 10 runs in the first over and then 15 in the second. Our captain has different playing style, but he should see what Rohit is doing," he said.
"World class players are the ones who take the game away from the opposition. In our time, it was Matthew Hayden, Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting," Razzaq added.
 "Kashish Chadha")
