An Indian fan's view: Over the top criticism of Babar Azam

[mikeypbadana86]

Unfair and harsh criticism from ex-cricketrs and media of pak.


From a neutral fan point of view, I felt babar's talent after his iconic 100 against NZ in 2019 world cup.

His achievements as captain:
2021 t20 semis. Ending the losing streak of pakistan in world cup
knock out India in the same world cup

2022 asia cup:
Knock out india

After babar, PAK has matched India while the last decade it was pure domination under Dhoni barring an exception of champions trophy.

2022 t20 world cup:

shadab khan(the vice captain) , haris both played rash shots. Virat played an out of the world innings hitting rauf for two sixes. The game was lost here. what role did captain have here?

match against ZIM:
3 of 3 needed with 4 wickets in hand. Singles in hindsight would have done? i remember a 2016 t20 world cup match where BAN almost knocked out india. They needed 2 off 3 balls and two batters have gone for glory shot. Dhoni ran the last batsment out and India won by 1 run.

If vice captain shadab messed up from a situation of 43 needed off 33 and 3 off 3 was a tough ask, why blame and try to sack the captain?

Team selection was wrong probably ! Knee jerk reactions of gunning for premier batsmen and removing from captaincy could destabilize the team culture again?

Babar may be average captain largely due to methodical approach in batting. kohli too some extent albiet with greater success was labelled an average captain unlike dhoni. The tactical genius of captains like dhoni and arjuna ranatunga also stemmed from the fact, they had limited abilities. Cricketers with limited abilities would always maximize the potential as leaders, where as gifted batters like babar/virat may struggle as captains.


I think captain Babar + tactical coach ( ala mikey arthur or foreign coach ) may work well for pakistan.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Ultimately buck stops at Captain. Pretty much all captains go through this. Be it is Australian or West Indian or South African or Indian. Kohli was rightfully criticized for building a top-heavy side much like he did with RCB. Rohit's first talk was about handling 10/3 situations. Pretty much all the losses ever happened in cricket is messing up of someone lol. You think India didn't mess up. Bowling rank full toss a tailender, dropping 3 catches. missing 2 direct hits in the final which cost 2 runs. Kohli missing a direct hit from 1 feet. Nobody brings that up because India won. Same way If Pakistan had won all these things would not have been subject of discussion. That is the way it is. Didn't bumrah get trolled for a very long time for his noball?

 

[ChTab]

His accomplishments also include 3 losses to a Zimbabwe side one in ODI at home(Rawalpindi). He deserves the sack. He has been absolutely horrible captain for the past 3 years. True he is an above average batter but someone as selfish as him doesn't deserve to be a captain especially of the national side.

 

[Suleiman]

The tipping point to remove him from captain is his refusal to adapt and learn.

He’s risking a 50% Shaheen again and again who is restraining himself and bowling 10 kph lower than he usually does.

His now proven selfishness as captain according to Wasim where he puts himself above the team, refusing to move down the order and let Haider (WHO IS AN ACTUAL T20 OPENER), Fakhar (ALSO A t20 OPENER) and literally anybody else open- as now stated by all 3 of Misbah, Wasim and Waqar and p much any sane cricketing fan that opening is the easiest job in t20s.

He wants to moan about the middle order, but refusing to move to 3 to provide some stability to it.

Does not behave like a leader at all. If his spearhead Rauf gets hit for a 6, instead of talking and addressing him like a leader, he instead starts to throw his toys out of the pram and starts getting hyper making the situation even worse. What bowler wants to be yelled at after getting hit? Keep the yelling for the locker room at least if you’re that frustrated.

Strategically he isn’t the worst taking into account the last 2 years. But it was a massive failure on his part that he played 2.5 pacers vs India instead of 4. Ofc, he’s young, he can learn what to do in Australia next time.

However his attitude and behavior does not say anything that he will be a selfless leader.

 

[Sachin136]

Knocking out India in a T20 shouldn't be the main goal of any cricket team.

His accomplishments also include 3 losses to a Zimbabwe side one in ODI at home(Rawalpindi). He deserves the sack. He has been absolutely horrible captain for the past 3 years. True he is an above average batter but someone as selfish as him doesn't deserve to be a captain especially of the national side.

Not to mention losing a test series at home.

 

[jnaveen1980]

His accomplishments also include 3 losses to a Zimbabwe side one in ODI at home(Rawalpindi). He deserves the sack. He has been absolutely horrible captain for the past 3 years. True he is an above average batter but someone as selfish as him doesn't deserve to be a captain especially of the national side.

TINA factor i suppose. Shadab next viable option?

 

[ChTab]

Knocking out India in a T20 shouldn't be the main goal of any cricket team.



Not to mention losing a test series at home.

at least that was vs AUS. Sure the manner was pathetic

 

[Ab Fan]

Buddy, I am sorry to say that most Pakistanis treat knocking India in a WT20 tournament league game as some kind of huge event. At the end of the day, it is just a game. You play 5 games vs us, some we will beat you and some you will beat us.

Unless it is like how NZ knocked us out of 2019 WC, 2021 WT20 and 2021 WTC, it is not even worth mentioning. It is a pretty small win at the end of the day because you have lost big games against us too like the 2019 World Cup, Asia Cup 2018 semis and 2022 WT20.

 

[Major]

His captaincy sucks. Pakistan rarely used to lose a game from a winning position until this buffoon became captain

 

[Shafi]

Average player who dominates ranking and stats by playing top country's C/D type of players in flat pitches but even then fail against them in crucial matches. Fans make him believe that he is kind of Bradman/Tendulqar/Kohli/Kane/Smith but reality is he is not even qualified to tie their shoe laces. He should study those great's batting and try to imitate those techniques to improve his batting. He gets way to much praise for his limited talents by delusional fans, formers whose head in the cloud and pathetic media people who doesn't understand damn thing about cricket.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

His captaincy sucks. Pakistan rarely used to lose a game from a winning position until this buffoon became captain

Pakistan always used to lose from winning positions. Not sure what you are talking about.

 

[Zaz]

I think the criticism has been over the top

Its not like pakistan has been totally outplayed Theyve lost games on fine margins because some players in the team are mentally weak and let the pressure get to them

No other captain will turn such weak individuals into world beaters

Pakistan cricket and cricketers are unfortunately toxic and will say and do anything to further their agendas and kick their fellow professionals when down

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Pakistan ex cricketers are the most toxic in the World. Wasim has directly said the Babar is a Selfish player.
Everyone is having a go at the team now.

 

[ARK Rafay]

Some Pakistanis are crazy. Team should stay away from social media and these criticism.

Post mortem can be done after the WT20. Not during.

 

[Cover Drive Six]

Pakistan ex cricketers are the most toxic in the World. Wasim has directly said the Babar is a Selfish player.
Everyone is having a go at the team now.

Out of team players also toxic.
Seems they are waiting for this moment, bunch of un professionals.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Out of team players also toxic.
Seems they are waiting for this moment, bunch of un professionals.

I saw Hafiz saying on Game On Hai that we made wrong bowling changes in last T20 WC semi-final and defeat was inevitable.. lol. He was playing that match I would have asked him then and there why you did not do anything as a player.
Lot of intellectual dishonesty in Pakistan cricket overall.

 

[PakPremi]

Hafeez was right in the last wc just because Hafeez got hit in his first over, Babar never bowled him again and instead bowled out of form Hasan Ali. Australia were more likely to struggle against Hafeez than Hasan Ali, just because Warner had a good one against Hafeez , it did not mean others would had also had same success.
Babar was also wrong not slecting Nawaz over Hasan ali for that match.

 

[JibranAnsari]

The problem is not babar , the problem is pakkstans management mindset. They want to win every meaningless bilateral t20 by playing full strength , how can you create a pool of player when you are not ready to sacrifice some wins here and there by giving chances to players who can replace the struggling or out of form players. All around the world the top teams only play their full strength when world cup is near.

Babars captaincy has limitations , but he is not helped by the monotony of the current lot.

 

[hitthestump]

Babar is a tactically poor captain. But the results have been about expectation for a Pakistan team in this era.

Shaheen, Shadab, Rauf, Rizwan and Babar himself have all done pretty well under this management. There have been some very notable wins and performances in there.

Ultimately a new captain isn't going to magically find middle order batsmen or reliable hitters out of nowhere. He will inherit the same problems and have the same results.

 

[hitthestump]

Out of team players also toxic.
Seems they are waiting for this moment, bunch of un professionals.

This is nothing new. Captain of Pakistan is the most thankless role in cricket.

The fans are emotional and low IQ while your fellow current and former cricketers can't wait to stab you in the back.

 

[Noman]

His captaincy sucks. Pakistan rarely used to lose a game from a winning position until this buffoon became captain

Sadly
I agree -
Babar has to go

 

[Energy]

The problem is not babar , the problem is pakkstans management mindset. They want to win every meaningless bilateral t20 by playing full strength , how can you create a pool of player when you are not ready to sacrifice some wins here and there by giving chances to players who can replace the struggling or out of form players. All around the world the top teams only play their full strength when world cup is near.

Babars captaincy has limitations , but he is not helped by the monotony of the current lot.

This is a very good point. And something that's not directly noticeable because naturally the blame goes to the players.

Selecting full strength sides for meaningless matches, preparing poor pitches, lack of A tour's due to funding being spent on other salaries. Holding the skipper unnacountable for dodgy selections. The PCB management itself is a soft mafia.

Ramiz tore his vocal chords on his YouTube channel the moment Pakistan lost games. He's gone into hiding now.

 

[Major]

Pakistan always used to lose from winning positions. Not sure what you are talking about.

You watch pakistani matches? Or just make stuff up now

 

[Nikhil_cric]

You watch pakistani matches? Or just make stuff up now

2010 World T20 semifinals. Sydney Test 2010. Abu Dhabi Test 2018. 1st or 2nd odi in 2013 SA tour of UAE when SA won by 1 run.

Just off the top of my head. Plenty more

 

[pratiktc]

Not really a captaincy problem.
Pak actually has a good core set of whiteball players - Babar, Shaheen, Rauf, Shadab, Rizwan and now Nawaz and Naseem.

They had a bit of bad luck and bottled a winnable game against Zim but they're not a bad white ball squad. Only thing they need to do is develop players for those last 2-3 empty spots by playing them up order in small bilaterals instead of letting bling boys pad their averages.

They are still a fair shout for next year's World Cup in subcontinent.

 

[ElRaja]

its open season on bobby, but hes brought it upon himself, things like refusing to move down as was suggested, if true tend to linger with management, no one cares if ur winning, but if ur losing everything that could be construed as being mentally strong is seen as being a control freak or selfish.

but he's had three years with minimal interference, and he exudes neither strategic nouse, nor that alpha dominance great captains of the past, lloyd, waugh, etc, used to.

 

[Minnowbasher]

Well someone ought to take the blame for the obvious rubbish selection. Only 3 seamers against India? Playing only 5 batsmen against Zimbabwe? Playing a constant failure like Haider?
So many questions but so few answers has made me conclude that either Babar is too incompetent to carry on or the selectors/coaches need a sacking.
I genuinely thought good of Mohammad Wasim as chief selector but it seems the right time to get rid of him.

 

[Major]

2010 World T20 semifinals. Sydney Test 2010. Abu Dhabi Test 2018. 1st or 2nd odi in 2013 SA tour of UAE when SA won by 1 run.

Just off the top of my head. Plenty more

So you had to search them up and dont watch them as claim.

THe mention matches were anamolies, Pakistan was winning way more from tough situations

 

[Nikhil_cric]

So you had to search them up and dont watch them as claim.

THe mention matches were anamolies, Pakistan was winning way more from tough situations

I did not search them up. These are matches I've watched or followed lol. Pakistani posters themselves used to benosn the fact that PAK was constantly losing from winning positions

 

[mastermind_quad]

His captaincy sucks. Pakistan rarely used to lose a game from a winning position until this buffoon became captain

This statement is not correct. IMHO only two teams in the world who can loose from any position any situation.
1st SA
2nd Pak

With Pakistan yes they can win from losing position while bowling.

 

[TeamPak95]

My biggest problem with Babar as a captain is his reluctance to be proactive/innovative with the players in his possession. Babar doesn’t have De Kocks, Warners, Phillips, etc. but he has players that he should play at the right positions, and it starts with himself to bat at 3. RizBar is pretty much known to not be proactive in the PP when they’re supposed to. Fakhar should open with Rizwan to make most out of the power play with Babar coming in at 3 to strengthen the middle order. Why is Babar so reluctant to do this? Are you telling me that he actually does not recognize this issue? I love Bobby but it’s stuff like this that makes me think, with a heavy heart, that Pakistan don’t deserve to qualify for the semis. And in a grander picture, it’s really takes moments like Pak losing to Zim in a WC to actually make these adjustments.

 

[Usergame]

The Babar and Rizwan opening partnership is Pakistan's biggest strength. Much more so than the overrated bowling.

6 overs 40/0 is a great start in t20 especially in these conditions.
They need a more reliable and destructive middle order and a bowling lineup that does not choke at every opportunity.

 

[Cric1234]

The Babar and Rizwan opening partnership is Pakistan's biggest strength. Much more so than the overrated bowling.

6 overs 40/0 is a great start in t20 especially in these conditions.
They need a more reliable and destructive middle order and a bowling lineup that does not choke at every opportunity.

They haven’t got the 40-0 start in the 2 matches played both matches have been 20-2 after 4 overs with the conditions finding out the openers moving down the order would’ve made them look better.