Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik criticized Babar Azam’s captaincy following Pakistan’s defeat to the USA in the T20 World Cup 2024. Malik expressed his disappointment, saying that Babar has not shown any growth or development in his leadership skills over the past four years.
Shoaib Malik, who played under Babar’s captaincy in the 2021 T20 World Cup, believes that Babar’s approach is too rigid. He stated that Babar sticks to his plans even when they are not working and doesn’t adapt to changing situations. Malik pointed out that Babar’s batting strategy, including the placement of certain players in specific positions, has remained the same for four years.
“This captaincy talk, I would like to go into its depth. You [Babar] have set a blockage in your mind, that is the problem. If you have decided that Shadab [Khan] has to bat at a certain number, and Azam [Khan] and Iftikhar [Ahmed] have to bat in the last overs, and you do that exactly, these are the blockages,” said Shoaib Malik. He emphasized that a good leader should evolve and improve over time, but he hasn’t seen any progress in Babar’s captaincy.
Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: USA Defeats Pakistan in Thrilling Super Over
Pakistan’s Disappointing Start in T20 World Cup 2024
In their opening game of the ongoing T20 World Cup, Pakistan, who were the runners-up in the 2022 edition, suffered a crushing defeat by the USA. The top order, including Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, and Usman Khan, failed to score big innings. The USA dismissed Azam Khan for a golden duck, while Shadab Khan and Babar Azam helped Pakistan reach a respectable total.
The Men in Green are now preparing to face India on June 9 in New York. The upcoming match against India is crucial for Pakistan as they aim to bounce back from their disappointing start. The pressure is on Babar to adapt his strategies and prove his capabilities as a flexible and effective captain.
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