Ever since the Cricket World Cup 2023 began, Babar Azam has failed to record a century.
Pakistani captain Babar Azam hasn’t performed well with the bat since travelling to India for the Cricket World Cup 2023. Babar has had a few excellent starts, but he hasn’t succeeded in making a major impression each time. Ramiz Raja, one of the greatest cricketers to have ever played for Pakistan, put on a pundit’s hat and examined the causes behind Babar’s dismal batting performance. Ramiz believes Babar has appeared the most “jittery” when he is playing against spin.
“His early batting against spin when he opens the innings is when you can find fault with his batting. When faced with pace, he is not as fluid as he is.
I’m not sure if it’s due of his footwork or if he doesn’t have many options because he doesn’t play the sweep shot. You have to play the sweep stroke on slow pitches,” Ramiz stated in a Star Sports discussion.
“He has always left as well, even when he has acted aggressively. He smashed a huge six against Afghanistan, but he was out at the worst moment. Thus, the confidence grows before collapsing,” he said.
Whether it was against pace or spin, Ramiz gave Babar some guidance, telling him to dig deep and find a way to grind during those challenging times.
“All he has to do is make it to the hundred where he can handle pace, spin, and feel at ease in his role. He is still middling the ball and is not completely out of control, but Ramiz noted that he appears a little uneasy when he starts an innings against spin.
Pakistan’s chances of making it to the 2023 Cricket World Cup semi-finals have been preserved with their victory over Bangladesh. But how some of the other results turn out will have a big impact on their prospects of placing in the top 4.
