Former tearaway Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar believes that Babar Azam can’t just be one of the “good players” saying the star batsman must establish himself as match-winner after the batsman failed to score runs in second innings of the first Test defeat against England on Saturday (August 8).
In the first innings of the first Test, Pakistan came out all guns blazing by scoring 300 plus and earned a lead of over 100 runs but miserably failed in the second innings, scoring just 169 to set a target of 277 for England to chase – which England chased down with three wickets remaining to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match Test series at Manchester.
Following the defeat, Akhtar has blamed Pakistan’s incompetent batting as well as slammed the bowling for not being aggressive enough to rattle the England batsmen for the Manchester Test defeat, saying the tourists wasted their advantage that they had gained in the first innings to post a big score.
Former pacer also believes that Babar should have come out with something good with the bat in the Manchester Test, saying the white-ball captain can’t just making a name for himself.
Akhtar said in a video posted on his YouTube channel: “Babar Azam has to come out with something good because you cannot create a name like this. You might be a good player, but you have to establish yourself as a match-winner.”
He added, “If you have to become a big player and earn a name, these are the situations. If you are not able to capitalize on a 107-run lead, however big a batsman you may be, you are of no use.”
Noteworthy, England and Pakistan will now lock horns in the second Test of the three-match Test series at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton from Thursday (August 13).
(With IANS Inputs)
