Babar Azam only scores against Zimbabwe or smaller teams: Kaneria
The ongoing debate about Pakistan’s batting woes has taken a new turn, with former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria expressing his disappointment and frustration with the team’s top-order batting, particularly the performance of ex-Pakistan captain Babar Azam. Kaneria, who took 261 wickets in 61 Tests for Pakistan, believes that Azam’s batting has been underwhelming, and that he only scores runs against smaller teams like Zimbabwe.
In a recent interview, Kaneria opined that Azam has not been scoring runs for a long time, and when he does, it is against weaker teams. “If Babar scores against big teams, there is no intent at all. There is no depth in [Pakistan’s] batting,” Kaneria added. This statement has sparked a heated debate among cricket fans and experts, with some agreeing with Kaneria’s assessment and others defending Azam’s batting record.
Kaneria’s comments come after Azam’s recent performance against India in the Champions Trophy match, where he scored 23 runs. While 23 is not a bad score, Kaneria believes that it is not enough to make a significant impact against a strong team like India. “When he scores, it’s against Zimbabwe or smaller teams. Against big teams, he doesn’t score,” Kaneria said.
Kaneria’s criticism of Azam’s batting is not new. Many experts and fans have been questioning his ability to score runs against strong teams, particularly in Test cricket. Azam has been criticized for his slow pace of scoring and his inability to rotate the strike. Despite this, he has been retained as Pakistan’s Test captain and has been given a lot of backing by the team management.
However, Kaneria’s comments are not without merit. Pakistan’s batting has been a major concern for the team, and it has been a major reason for their poor performance in recent times. The team’s top-order batting, in particular, has been underwhelming, with Azam and other top-order batsmen struggling to make an impact.
Kaneria believes that the lack of depth in Pakistan’s batting is a major concern. “When you don’t have the ability to score runs against big teams, it’s difficult to win matches,” he said. Kaneria also believes that the team’s bowling attack has been the strength of the team, but that the batting has let them down.
The criticism of Azam’s batting is not limited to Kaneria. Many experts and fans have been questioning his ability to score runs against strong teams. Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has also been critical of Azam’s batting, saying that he needs to improve his batting to take his game to the next level.
However, there are also those who believe that Azam is a good player and that he has been doing his best for the team. Azam has been one of Pakistan’s most consistent batsmen in recent times, and he has been a key player for the team in all formats.
In conclusion, Kaneria’s comments about Azam’s batting have sparked a heated debate among cricket fans and experts. While some agree with Kaneria’s assessment, others believe that Azam is a good player and that he has been doing his best for the team. Ultimately, it is up to Azam to prove his critics wrong and to improve his batting to take his game to the next level.
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