Former Pakistani leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has recently expressed concerns about Babar Azam’s captaincy of the Pakistan National Cricket Team. Kaneria’s critique comes after Pakistan’s mixed performance in the ICC World Cup 2023.
Pakistan kicked off their World Cup campaign with impressive victories over the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. The Men in Green looked like genuine contenders with Babar Azam at the helm. However, their fortunes took a sharp downturn as they faced defeats against cricketing giants like India, Australia, and Afghanistan. These losses raised questions about Pakistan’s team management, particularly Babar Azam’s captaincy.
Danish Kaneria minced no words in his critique. He stated that Babar Azam doesn’t possess the ability to captain under pressure and instead follows the orders of the team management to the letter. This passivity has been evident in his decision-making during matches, such as opting to bat first against Afghanistan.
Kaneria pointed out that Babar Azam’s struggles to handle pressure situations have been a significant concern. This manifested in his choice to bat first against Afghanistan, which raised eyebrows. Kaneria argued that Babar should have utilized Mohammad Nawaz and Shaheen Afridi to exploit Afghanistan’s openers, who are skilled at facing pace.
He stated, “Babar Azam will only do what is written on paper and given to him. He doesn’t know anything else. He can’t bat under pressure, so he elected to bat first against Afghanistan. He should have given Mohammad Nawaz and Shaheen Afridi the new ball because Afghanistan’s openers play pace well.”
Kaneria didn’t hold back when assessing the overall state of the Pakistan National Cricket Team. He labeled the current setup as ‘pathetic,’ raising concerns about the capabilities of certain players. He particularly highlighted the performance of Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali, describing the former as a ‘tape ball cricketer’ and the latter’s unpredictability.
Kaneria added, “Haris Rauf is a tape ball cricketer who bowls fast, and you don’t know what to expect from Hasan Ali. When there was some reserve swing, Babar Azam bowled Iftikhar Ahmed from one end. They are looking like a pathetic side right now.”
One of the notable captaincy mistakes that Kaneria emphasized was Babar Azam’s decision to introduce Iftikhar Ahmed into the bowling attack during a period of reserve swing. This move raised questions and cast doubt on the team’s strategic choices.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has acknowledged the team’s struggles and issued a statement encouraging fans to support the team through these challenging times. They also hinted that Babar Azam’s position as captain might be in jeopardy if the team fails to improve its performance in the upcoming games.
