Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar feels that a long wait for his turn to bat could have been a possible reason for the poor form of Babar Azam in the ongoing Test series against Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe is hosting Pakistan for the two-match Test series. The visitors thumped hosts by innings and 116 runs in the first Test match.
In the ongoing second Test match, Pakistan opted to bat, and on the account of Abid Ali’s maiden double century and Azhar Ali’s century posted a mammoth first innings total of 510 runs.
In both Test matches, Pakistani batters have displayed batting of the highest quality, scoring 400-plus runs in two innings they have played so far in the series.
However, one of the areas of concern for Pakistan is the form of their skipper Babar Azam. The 26-year-old was dismissed for a golden duck by Donald Tiripano in the first innings of the first Test in Harare before being sent packing for 2 by Blessing Muzarabani in the second Test at the same venue.
While talking about Babar Alam’s form, former Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar said that Babar Azam not scoring runs is worrisome for Pakistan.
He while describing Azam’s situation as a quarantine within a quarantine added that waiting for his turn to bat could be a possible reason for the poor form.
“Worrying point is again Babar Azam because he is not scoring runs. Against this Zimbabwe team, he had to wait for his turn because first opener, and then Azhar Ali played long innings.
“Babar has to wear his pads and be ready during that time, which is the best and worst part of Test cricket. You have to sit and watch with concentration. and you can’t talk much as well. So, basically, you are in quarantine within a quarantine,” Shoaib Akhtar said.
"I have total control and say in team selection and other matters," says Babar Azam
Akhtar said that Babar Azam should’ve scored 300-400 runs during this series as fans expect a lot from and he should try to stay positive.
“Babar should have scored at least 300-400 runs during this series, Sometimes it happens that you can’t score runs, but I’m sure Babar is trying his best. We expect a lot from him, so we should try to stay positive,” he said.
Ever since taking over the captaincy of Pakistan in all three formats, Babar Azam hasn’t fired in Test cricket. In four matches, the right-handed batsman has scored just 124 runs in six innings at a poor average of 20.66 with just one fifty.
(News 18 inputs)
