Former Pakistan and Indian cricketers criticize Babar Azam's captaincy
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Former Pakistan and Indian cricketers criticized Babar Azam's captaincy in the Asia Cup 2023 Group A clash between India and Pakistan. Shoaib Akhtar suggested, "Pakistan should have continued with pacers with short two-over spells from one end and operate spin from only one end." He believed Pakistan missed an opportunity after reducing India to 66-4.
Aakash Chopra echoed this sentiment, stating, "Babar Azam got his spinners to bowl 21 overs when the opposing team was 66/4. You had 30 overs of fast bowling." He felt that Pakistan should have been more aggressive in their approach to bowl India out earlier.
Chopra also mentioned that Pakistan had "missed a trick" and could have pressured India into a lower total by maintaining continuous fast bowling from one end.
Sunil Gavaskar expressed his confusion regarding Babar's bowling changes, saying, "The bowling changes didn't make any sense because if you have three bowlers, the pace bowlers have taken the early wickets, you want to keep at least one ongoing from one end."
Irfan Pathan highlighted Pakistan's shortage of pacers in favorable fast-bowling conditions, mentioning that spinners conceding 133 runs without a wicket in 21 overs was a game-changer.
Shaheen and Haris Rauf reduced India to 66-4 before a fightback by Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya lifted India to 266 all out.
