Babar Azam Hits Back at TV Critics, Says Captaincy Has Not Affected Batting

Kolkata: Pakistan captain Babar Azam responded to critics questioning his leadership skills, stating that opinions on TV are easy to give and emphasizing that captaincy hasn’t negatively impacted his batting in the Cricket World Cup 2023. Following an eight-wicket loss to Afghanistan and failure to defend 271 against South Africa, former captains Moin Khan and Shoaib Malik criticized Babar’s captaincy, suggesting it affected his batting.

Babar dismissed the criticism, inviting direct calls for advice and asserting that he hasn’t felt pressure due to captaincy in the last three years. Despite not converting starts into centuries in the World Cup, he remained focused on contributing to the team’s success. Facing questions about stepping down from captaincy, Babar remained composed, stating decisions would be evaluated later.

With New Zealand’s win impacting Pakistan’s semifinal hopes, Babar acknowledged missed opportunities against Afghanistan and South Africa. To secure a last-four berth, Pakistan must beat England by a significant margin to surpass New Zealand’s net run rate. Babar highlighted the team’s failure to execute plans in batting, bowling, and fielding.

Refuting claims of a sharp performance decline since 1999, Babar stressed Pakistan’s historical dominance and expressed commitment to improvement. He also attributed their struggles in India to a lack of experience but acknowledged the support and love received from Indian fans.