Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has criticized Pakistan captain Babar Azam following his disappointing performances in the first Test against Bangladesh in 2024.
Babar, who has been Pakistan’s batting mainstay for years, struggled in both innings of the match, raising concerns about his form.
‘Babar needs to focus on delivering when it matters the most’ – Basit Ali
Basit Ali, known for his blunt opinions, didn’t hold back in expressing his frustration with Babar’s recent failures. “You don’t score runs in the nets; you score them in matches,” Ali remarked during a discussion on a sports show. He pointed out that while Babar might be doing well in practice sessions, his inability to convert that into match-winning performances is troubling. “Babar needs to focus on delivering when it matters the most. Practice is important, but ultimately, it’s the runs on the board that count.”
Babar Azam, regarded as one of the modern-day greats, has been under pressure to perform consistently, especially as the captain of the national team. In the first Test against Bangladesh, he failed to make a significant impact, managing only 14 and 23 runs in the two innings. His dismissals were particularly disappointing, as he seemed to be struggling against the disciplined Bangladeshi bowling attack.
Ali further emphasized that Babar’s lack of big scores in crucial matches is becoming a pattern, and it’s something that the team management needs to address. “Being a captain and the team’s premier batsman comes with its own set of challenges. Babar must find a way to overcome these and lead by example.”
Pakistan eventually won the first Test, but Babar’s form remains a talking point. With more challenging matches ahead, the onus is on the skipper to regain his form and silence his critics, including Basit Ali, with strong performances in the upcoming games.
