Exactly, one year ago, I was in Sharjah with my wife Iman witnessing Pak vs Scotland group stage match. Pakistan had already qualified for the semi-finals. Today, the cricket frenzy has taken over the Pakistani nation all over again. Babar Azam is probably the greatest T20I captain for Pakistan. But he has to prove it.
Under his captaincy in the T20I World Cups, Pakistan played eleven matches. Out of which Pakistan won eight and lost just three. He captained two world cups and qualified for the semi-finals in both. He captained one Asia cup and reached the finals. But these days it seems like his efficiency, elegance, and control—all of them—are no longer present. Babar Azam really that out of it?
When Kohli was being trolled for his poor form, Babar Azam stood in solidarity with him and tweeted “This too shall pass, stay strong” and shared a picture of them together.
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Babar Azam has been criticized by Gautam Gambhir and called a selfish captain. Shoaib Akhtar lashed out at Babar Azam and Pakistan Cricket Board after Pakistan’s defeat to Zimbabwe. Wasim Akram has been quoting his dressing room talks with Babar when he asked Baber to play down the order. Muhammad Amir was just hoping Pakistan to lose so that Babar will be removed as Captain, Muhammad Wasim will be removed as Chief Selector, and RAMIZ will be removed as Chairman.
I am captain, I will decide batting order; not you.Babar Azam in response to Wasim Akram
Babar is being selfish, at this point, for not moving down the order. However, in his defense, the pitch was not easy to bat on but his being out of form makes matters more difficult to bat in such conditions. Besides, if we can show support for Kohli in his bad patch then why can’t the same be done for Babar? His bat will win us matches not Kohli’s.
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Even incredible players have weak points. Unfortunately, Babar is not in peak form at the moment and it can happen to anyone. Most recently, Indian Captain Rohit Sharma equaled the record of Babar Azam in T20 International matches victories in a calendar year. By the end of the season, will Babar take back his supremacy? That is the question. Everyone has their ups and downs in sports. The tables have turned for Babar Azam, who went from being the T20 World Cup 2021’s top run-scorer (303 runs) to failing to register a fifty in T20 World Cup 2022. This too shall also pass for him.
QOUM MULK SALTANAT, BABAR AZAM ZINDABAAD
Are we going to see big innings from Babar Azam in the semi-final? Matthew Hayden reckons such a knock is not far away. Might be tomorrow in the semis. What better occasion than that folks? All the best Pakistan skipper. I feel a 50 tomorrow. Come on Skipper it’s long due now. There have been 378 instances of a player facing 60+ balls in a T20 WC – only once has a player scored at a lower average and lower strike rate than what Babar Azam (Avg 7.80, SR 61.90) has managed in this World Cup. It’s slightly worse 57(65), not even good enough for ODI’s.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan’s starting pair, gave the green shirts a painful-to-watch start as they try to reach their 128-run goal in the virtual quarterfinal. Fifty-Seven on Sixty Three run opening stand between Babar and Rizwan is the slowest – scoring rate of 5.42 – from a Full Member nation in all T20Is for the first wicket.
Babar Azam and Co have arrived in Sydney for the T20 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. Before the semi-final, the team had no cricket matches scheduled on the field. The Men in Green preferred to rest rather than practice, but captain Babar Azam insisted on hours of batting practice by himself.
Sawera Pasha, Nida Yasir’s sister – the sports journalist, in her video log reported that Baber Azam did nets on an off day for some good one and half hours. The 28-year-old engaged in alone exercise for an hour and a half with mentor Matthew Hayden present. Babar will be back with his supremacy when tomorrow at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Pakistan will play New Zealand in the T20 World Cup semifinal match (SCG).
Virat Kohli has shut down all his critics, will Babar be able to prove that he is better than Virat? Will Qudrat ka nizam come into play?
