Afridi and Kaif Raise Concerns About Babar Azam's Ability to Finish Matches

Former Pakistan cricket captain, Shahid Afridi, and former Indian cricketer, Mohammad Kaif, have voiced doubts regarding Babar Azam's capacity to successfully conclude matches during the ongoing ICC 2023 World Cup in India.

Afridi, in a recent interview with a local media channel, acknowledged Babar Azam's undeniable talent but raised questions about his ability to see matches through to the end. According to Afridi, while Babar is expected to make significant contributions to the scoreboard, players like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul not only score runs but also ensure they stay at the crease until the end, playing a pivotal role in their team's victories.

Afridi emphasized that when Babar Azam is at the crease, there's an expectation from fans and experts that he will make a substantial contribution to the team's total. However, he also pointed out the challenge in explaining to Babar's fans what the team requires from him, despite labeling him as a great player. Maintaining such a high level of performance is no easy task, according to Afridi.

"When Babar Azam is at the crease, everyone expects him to contribute 50-60 runs to the scoreboard. On the other hand, Virat and KL Rahul not only score runs but also ensure that they remain at the crease until the end to help India secure victory," Afridi said.

On the other hand, Mohammad Kaif expressed concerns about Babar's ability to finish matches through aggressive hitting. Kaif noted that when Babar tries to shift gears and hit boundaries, it's not his natural style of play. He often gets caught on the boundary when attempting big hits, indicating that it's not his strong suit. Babar is recognized as a touch player, and, as per Kaif, he may lack the ability to accelerate his scoring after facing a certain number of balls, unlike players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who excel in this aspect.

"The dismissal shows that when he changes gears, it is not his game. When he tries to hit balls out of the boundary, he gets caught on the line. It is not his strength; he is a touch player. If you ask him to score runs at a fast pace after 60 balls, he probably does not have the ability that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have," Kaif remarked.

Babar Azam, the 29-year-old Pakistani skipper, has scored 216 runs in seven matches in the ICC 2023 World Cup, with an average of 30.85 and a strike rate of 77.69. His performance includes three half-centuries, but questions persist about his ability to finish matches effectively and aggressively.