CWC 2023: 'Quit captaincy like Virat Kohli did'- Basit Ali tells Babar Azam after World Cup struggle

Babar Azam has so far scored only 157 runs in 5 games in the ODI World Cup 2023.

Babar Azam | Getty Images

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali urged Babar Azam to quit the captaincy and make full use of his potential as a batter, just like Virat Kohli did. This came after the Men in Green's ongoing struggles the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

Notably, Kohli stepped down as captain two years ago and returned to his beast mode to play a crucial role in the Indian cricket team’s success. Now, Ali wants Babar to follow the Indian superstar, as the Pakistani skipper is badly struggling for runs in the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2023.

Read Also: CWC 2023: Virender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra criticize Pakistan for using Naseem Shah's absence as an excuse

The former Pakistani batter also recalled how people made him a traitor when he suggested Babar step down from captaincy after the team’s 3 successive defeats in the ODI World Cup 2023 in India.

Basit Ali told ARY News: “I told one year ago on my channel, that Babar Azam is a very good batter. He should quit captaincy, just like Virat Kohli did. Virat stepped down and look at his performances.”

He added, “His performance will become better, for sure. But, as we all know, certain people on social media twisted my words, saying I don't like Babar Azam and I am a traitor.”

Notably, Pakistan is currently placed in the fifth spot on the CWC 2023 points table with four points and a negative net run rate. They will next face South Africa on October 27 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 24 Oct, 2023

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