Pakistan’s former cricketer Mushtaq Ahmed stood for Babar Azam, answering that Kohli also takes time to find his ground in the team. Mushtaq Ahmed also noted that Babar tends to be wary and always conservative, but highlighted that it works for him sometimes and that the others also have to chip in.
He pointed out that Babar had demonstrated a shift in plans and a more aggressive approach, but pointed out that the problem of the other players’ inability to provide adequate support during the critical overs remains an enduring matter.
Pakistan had a rather horrendous exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup as the team lost its consecutive matches in the group stage to the USA and India. Babar Azam also failed to justify the expectations, as he scored quickfire 122 runs in four games with a below-par strike rate of only 101. And 66, which many believed did not produce sufficient results in the crucial games.
That tournament is now over, and all that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) can do is start strategic planning for future ventures to get better results in subsequent championships. Something from the grassroots level will shape the future of the Pakistan cricket.
Comparison with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
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While talking in an interview with Cricket Pakistan, former Pakistani cricketer Mushtaq Ahmed stuck up for Babar Azam’s batting stance, comparing him with Indian batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Mushtaq Ahmed specifically stated that taking time to settle is an advantage, not a disadvantage.
That (taking time) is his strength. Virat Kohli bhi time leta hai, woh konsa time nahi leta (Virat Kohli also takes time; he is also the same). If you leave the last two or three matches, Rohit Sharma was scoring 20–25 runs. But I have seen a change of intent in Babar’s game. He has become more aggressive.
Mushtaq Ahmad Talk On Responsibility of Other Players
Mushtaq Ahmed stressed the need for the other departments to perform with nearly the same effectiveness, stressing that Azam deserves credit for his enhanced aggression. He complained that key members of the rest of the team failed to contribute to the game as much as he expected; it has been a recurrent problem for the past several years.
If a person can improve so much, I think that’s enough. Other players also have a duty to score runs; they have a role to play too. If one person gives you a score, but the rest of our players don’t go on to score in the remaining 7-8 overs, then there’s a problem. This has been happening for 3-4 years. They (other players) only score when it doesn’t make a significant impact.
PCB’s Strategic Planning for Future Tournaments
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In response to the recent setbacks, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has prioritized strategic planning for upcoming tournaments and series. The PCB aims to leverage the expertise of Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten, the white-ball head coach, to develop effective strategies for the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled for February- March next year.
In preparation for this major tournament, Pakistan will face a series of challenging fixtures. This includes a five-Test home series against Bangladesh and England, followed by a white-ball tour of Australia. Subsequently, the team will travel to South Africa for a comprehensive series encompassing both Test and white-ball formats.
Also Read: Mumbai Celebrates With Virat Kohli And Team India’s T20 World Cup Victory in Joyous Parade
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