(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir came down hard on Pakistan captain Babar Azam as he thinks the latter was timid in his approach while batting in last night’s World Cup match.
Pakistan were asked to bat first by India in the 12th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. They, at one stage, were 155/2, however, their next eight wickets fell for only 36 runs as an unreal collapse ensued.
Babar and Mohammad Rizwan were the highest-scorers for Pakistan with 50 and 49 runs respectively, however, Gambhir feels that both of them adopted a similar approach during their partnership, which was unacceptable.
He even went on to say that if a batter cares more about his milestones, such results will follow, as in the case of Pakistan.
“Babar Azam has been extremely timid. Two batters cannot bat the same way in a partnership, one of them has to take chances. If you are playing for a fifty or your runs, you will get such results,” Gambhir was quoted as saying on Star Sports.
Further, the cricketer-turned-commentator stated that the Pakistan team have had aggressive top-order batters in the past, but in their currently line-up, there is no such player.
“Babar Azam has scored a lot of runs for himself but it’s been Pakistan’s history that they have liked to bat aggressively at the start, whether it was Shahid Afridi, Imran Nazir or Taufeeq Umar, and they consolidate in the middle. However, here in the top three, there isn’t a single batter who can take on the opposition attack.
“When you play against a top-quality attack, at times you discuss in the dressing room that you will play freely even if you get out for 150, you will not play timidly. If the top three get out early, then the No. 4 and No. 5 would consolidate,” Gambhir asserted.
Pakistan lost to India by seven wickets. They have two wins and one loss in their account in the World Cup so far. Babar and Co. will next face Australia on October 20 in Bengaluru.