The Pakistan cricket team currently find themselves in turmoil as they suffered their fourth consecutive defeat in Match 26 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 . Their latest loss came in a closely contested encounter against South Africa at Chennai on Friday, where the Proteas emerged victorious by just one wicket.
Evaluating Babar’s batting performance
Pakistan’s skipper, Babar Azam, has become a focal point of discussion among cricket enthusiasts lately. The right-handed batter has displayed a balanced touch throughout the tournament, accumulating three half-centuries.
However, despite the satisfactory performances, Babar has not been able to significantly contribute to his team’s winning cause. An interesting observation is that Pakistan have lost all three matches in which he scored a half-century. This dichotomy of personal success and team outcomes has raised questions about the team’s overall performance and the 29-year-old’s role as a captain and key batter in the squad.
Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir, often recognized for his blunt and straightforward comments, has offered his insights on the impact of Babar’s batting magnitude in the ongoing tournament.
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Gautam Gambhir’s blunt remarks on Babar Azam
After the intense showdown between Pakistan and South Africa, Gambhir openly voiced his critique of Babar’s performance in the World Cup 2023. The former Indian opener highlighted that Babar has yet to deliver any significant or standout innings throughout the tournament.
“Babar Azam hasn’t played any impactful inning. Records and rankings are overrated. The real No.1 is the one who wins matches,” said Gambhir on Star Sports.
Gambhir didn’t halt there and delved into a broader discussion about Pakistan’s overall performance in the recent tournament. The cricketer-turned-politician particularly emphasized fitness as a crucial aspect that requires significant improvement in the team.
“First thing that Pakistan needs to work after the World Cup is their fitness – there is a huge difference between Pakistan and other nine teams in the fielding,” the 42-year-old added.
