Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan openly criticized Pakistans captain Babar Azam for his underwhelming strike rate against the USA during the T20 World Cup match in Dallas on Thursday June 6. Pathan highlighted Azams inability to sustain a 100 strike rate while facing 40+ balls.
Babar Azam scored 44 runs off 43 balls with a strike rate of 102.33, including two sixes and three boundaries. Jasdeep Singh trapped him leg before wicket in the sixteenth over. At one point in the innings, the right-hander had six runs off 20 pitches.
Irfan Pathan posted on X (previously Twitter):
“On a fairly decent batting condition as a captain if you are playing 40+ ball inning with 100 strike rate. You aren’t helping your team cause.”
Irfan Pathan
“Play at 160-170 or even a strike rate of 200 if the team needs it” – Misbah-ul-Haq to Babar Azam
During the previous month the former captain of Pakistan cricket team Misbah-ul-Haq stressed the importance of Babar Azam the current captain enhancing his batting strike rate. Misbah advised Babar to use criticism as a motivating factor to improve his power play. Speaking to Star Sports Misbah shared the following:
“Hopefully, he will bat like that and when the team requires that sort of an innings from him. If an anchor role is required, then anchor it. But you have to be potentially ready to play at 160-170 or even a strike rate of 200 if the team needs it.”
“Outside noise does affect a player, but good players, who are mentally strong, top cricketers in the world, they take motivation from criticism. They write down those noises that yes, I have to answer them on the ground. Somehow, they take motivation from those voices and criticism.”
Misbah-ul-Haq
Babar recently hit 32 (26) and 36 (22) with strike rates of 123.08 and 163.64, respectively, against England in two Twenty20 Internationals. Overall, he has 4,067 runs in 120 matches, with a strike rate of 129.77.
Babar Azam will face India at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 9.
