[VIDEO] “I don’t think it was a scripted captaincy by Babar Azam": Daren Sammy

[BouncerGuy]

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Peshawar Zalmi's coach Daren Sammy speaking during the Peshawar Zalmi vs Multan Sultans' post-game presser - he was asked if Babar follows a set script when captaining the side (gets instructions from outside etc)

"Even when I was a captain, my strategy was to leave the field after 5 overs and ensure that what I was doing outside was, to be in sync with the coach’s thinking. In every sport, including the NFL and NBA, if you watch American football, you’ll see that the captain and the coach have a very good relationship, even during the game. In the NBA, big stars and coaches are constantly communicating. So why is it in cricket that we leave the captain out there all by himself? I don’t believe in that.

“Even when I was a captain, as successful as I was, it was never just about me. I always tried to align what I was doing out there with the coach’s perspective because they see the game from a different point of view. I always shared my knowledge with the captain. The beautiful thing about Babar Azam is that he is an amazing human being. Despite all his achievements, he trusts my leadership just as I trust his. We have a really good partnership for Peshawar Zalmi and we are looking forward to next year.”

“I don’t think it was a scripted captaincy. The first thing I told Babar when he came here was that as a leader, you must always be able to trust your gut feelings. There are times when I send a message, his job is to listen, understand, and see how it will impact the game. Whether he takes it or not, I am fine with whatever decision he takes out there. I still believe that the captain and the coach must have some synergy between them."​

 

[daytrader]

Amazing insight from Sammy. Babar finally getting captaincy lessons. Should have done it instead of going to Harvard

 

[MenInG]

Sammy's answer went over the head of our journalist friend.

 

[pakistani pride]

Amazing insight from Sammy. Babar finally getting captaincy lessons. Should have done it instead of going to Harvard

LOL you really think he learned something at Harvard?

 

[mominsaigol]

LOL you really think he learned something at Harvard?

If babar and rizwan are going to harvard then I am going to Mars.

 

[FearlessRoar]

As a coach, Daren Sammy has not proven to be vital and useful for Peshawar Zalmi. I think he has been made a coach forcibly.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I do think Babar's tactics are predetermined. He is always following a set pattern and isn't proactive with his field placements or bowling changes

 

[daytrader]

LOL you really think he learned something at Harvard?

I think it was a complete time waste in a World Cup year. Unacceptable from the PCB that our best two players were occupied with these sort of extra curricular activities rather than focusing on cricket. That's what happens when you have weak management and are constantly changing coaches

 

[oatmeal]

I think it was a complete time waste in a World Cup year. Unacceptable from the PCB that our best two players were occupied with these sort of extra curricular activities rather than focusing on cricket. That's what happens when you have weak management and are constantly changing coaches

Those Harvard executive programs are just a vanity course for the university to make money. People can boast they studied at Harvard but actually its just a short term course not even comparable to their MBA program which is very hard to get in to

 

[Cricket Warrior]

If its not scripted captaincy then how did Babar bring about this massive change in his leadership? Surely credit goes to the coaching staff of Peshawar Zalmi who would have guided him throughout the tournament.

 

[Major]

Those Harvard executive programs are just a vanity course for the university to make money. People can boast they studied at Harvard but actually its just a short term course not even comparable to their MBA program which is very hard to get in to

Amazing insight from Sammy. Babar finally getting captaincy lessons. Should have done it instead of going to Harvard

Thats a really poor POV to have..

Any kind of education from a good institute is good. Not only Babar and Rizwan were there but there were guys from other sports of life aswell. They got to interact and network with other sports stars and learn from each other.

Plus, Babar and Rizwan going to Harvard is 100 times better than seeing them in a photo shoot for an Ad. Because back home, both these guys are looked up and there fans will atleast start valuing education and would also have drive to attend Harvard one day.

 

[topspin]

If babar and rizwan are going to harvard then I am going to Mars.

This made me laugh so much. It's also funny because RizBar fans thought Babar and Rizwan were going to change the team with their "pearls of wisdom" that they obtained from Harvard.

 

[mominsaigol]

Thats a really poor POV to have..

Any kind of education from a good institute is good. Not only Babar and Rizwan were there but there were guys from other sports of life aswell. They got to interact and network with other sports stars and learn from each other.

Plus, Babar and Rizwan going to Harvard is 100 times better than seeing them in a photo shoot for an Ad. Because back home, both these guys are looked up and there fans will atleast start valuing education and would also have drive to attend Harvard one day.

I know you and I tend to disagree on education, but this comment makes no sense?

Harvard is a reputable name, and is one of if not the best university In the world period, easily top 5. People don't even go to hatvard for the education at times, they go for networking since all the kids from rich and well connected families are their.

Someone like Mark zuckerberg would never ever reach where he is if he didn't go to harvard since his roomates were all genius programming prodigies or they were all from extremely rich and connected families capable of casually marketing and funding to exclusively connected people

Point being, people go to harvard to succeed as education is top notch but the people their are all mostly rich, connected, smart etc etc, plus literally any employer would go goo goo ga ga over a harvard degree and rush to employ you.

But

A) The program that they attended (babar and rizwan) is no different then those oxford university summer school programs etc, anyone can attend those and goof off, Theirs no benefit to them besides maybe interacting with students who already study at these universities, but education wise its just a money scheme and a scheme to market their university and entice people to come study here one day assuming they got the skills and criteria to meet entry requirements.

B) even these so called programs are still useful if you're 15-16 lol since you're still meeting students and peers who are older and their still prodigies to be able to study at the university. But

Why are babar and rizwan here? What do you mean by they get to interact with people from all walks of life? Their freaking sports superstars, they already do that and secondly they don't need any aspiring connections, their already front runners in all 3 formats of the game, so unless their planning to quit their career to meet some silicon valley dude, it doesn't make any sense.

And education wise they don't need to study business or whatever if their freaking playing cricket and will do so for the next 10 years.

The reality is, Harvard is doing this cause babar and rizwan are famous and they can add bobby to their alumini same way they have added many Hollywood actors, bellwood actors, sports superstars, noble laureates etc to their portfolio,

It's why harbard gave bill gates a degree 12 years later despite dropping out cause they want an alumini portfolio.

Harbard gets the benefit, Babar and rizwan get zero benefit from actually being here, their not 18-25 year old looking to make a career or get connections.

Their already connected superstars in the sports field

 

[BouncerGuy]

I think Sammy meant to say that Babar is not doing the conventional, old-style captaincy but he has been working things out by proper plan. TBH babar has been good as a captain and as a player so far.

 

[Major]

I know you and I tend to disagree on education, but this comment makes no sense?

Harvard is a reputable name, and is one of if not the best university In the world period, easily top 5. People don't even go to hatvard for the education at times, they go for networking since all the kids from rich and well connected families are their.

Someone like Mark zuckerberg would never ever reach where he is if he didn't go to harvard since his roomates were all genius programming prodigies or they were all from extremely rich and connected families capable of casually marketing and funding to exclusively connected people

Point being, people go to harvard to succeed as education is top notch but the people their are all mostly rich, connected, smart etc etc, plus literally any employer would go goo goo ga ga over a harvard degree and rush to employ you.

But

A) The program that they attended (babar and rizwan) is no different then those oxford university summer school programs etc, anyone can attend those and goof off, Theirs no benefit to them besides maybe interacting with students who already study at these universities, but education wise its just a money scheme and a scheme to market their university and entice people to come study here one day assuming they got the skills and criteria to meet entry requirements.

B) even these so called programs are still useful if you're 15-16 lol since you're still meeting students and peers who are older and their still prodigies to be able to study at the university. But

Why are babar and rizwan here? What do you mean by they get to interact with people from all walks of life? Their freaking sports superstars, they already do that and secondly they don't need any aspiring connections, their already front runners in all 3 formats of the game, so unless their planning to quit their career to meet some silicon valley dude, it doesn't make any sense.

And education wise they don't need to study business or whatever if their freaking playing cricket and will do so for the next 10 years.

The reality is, Harvard is doing this cause babar and rizwan are famous and they can add bobby to their alumini same way they have added many Hollywood actors, bellwood actors, sports superstars, noble laureates etc to their portfolio,

It's why harbard gave bill gates a degree 12 years later despite dropping out cause they want an alumini portfolio.

Harbard gets the benefit, Babar and rizwan get zero benefit from actually being here, their not 18-25 year old looking to make a career or get connections.

Their already connected superstars in the sports field

the Program was attended by 30+ international sport stars that also included Chelsea ex player aswell. So you are saying all the other sports stars that attended did not get any benefit?

There cricket career is limited till the ages o 35-40. After that its not given what there employment will be.

 

[mominsaigol]

the Program was attended by 30+ international sport stars that also included Chelsea ex player aswell. So you are saying all the other sports stars that attended did not get any benefit?

There cricket career is limited till the ages o 35-40. After that its not given what there employment will be.

Fair point.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Daren Sammy speaking during a presser after losing the Eliminator-2 against Islamabad United in PSL 9 - he was asked if Pakistan decided to remove Babar Azam from captaincy to let him play freely as a batter, will Peshawar Zalmi think to do the same.

“That is not on our minds right now. We are still trying to understand what transpired today. There’s nothing we can do about the result now, we can only plan for the next season. But like I said before and I said it during the last game, I am pretty sure that Babar Azam is a leader. When you see me on the boundary with him, I am just trying to get an idea of what he is thinking to make sure that the two of us are in sync. He might have an idea and I might have an idea. I think that he has led well in the field, he has been brilliant with the bat. But at the end of the day, I always say that batters win you games and bowlers win you the tournament, and today it proved to be true.”​

 

[daytrader]

the Program was attended by 30+ international sport stars that also included Chelsea ex player aswell. So you are saying all the other sports stars that attended did not get any benefit?

There cricket career is limited till the ages o 35-40. After that its not given what there employment will be.

Did those 30+ international stars have a World Cup that year? Let's call it what it was Major sb, it was ridiculous and they should've shown more discipline and commitment to win a World Cup rather than going on vacations. They are the backbone of our team and I expected better from them.

It's not entirely their fault though as the PCB is a defunct board. No one was there to give them the danda that year. We needed someone like Misbah at the helm to enforce such discipline

 

[160KPH]

This made me laugh so much. It's also funny because RizBar fans thought Babar and Rizwan were going to change the team with their "pearls of wisdom" that they obtained from Harvard.

Could you please provide evidence of this? I do not even remember this being discussed on the forum but I definitely do not remember Babar and Rizwan fans thinking this was going to change our team.

 

[daytrader]

Could you please provide evidence of this? I do not even remember this being discussed on the forum but I definitely do not remember Babar and Rizwan fans thinking this was going to change our team.

I'm a RizBar fan and even I criticized their decision. Then and now. These guys live in their own fantasies

 

[160KPH]

I'm a RizBar fan and even I criticized their decision. Then and now. These guys live in their own fantasies

So much of the anti Rizwan talk in general is just based on completely made up conspiracies. Rizwan’s haters think that he is an evil figure in the background who has controlled all of Pakistani cricket for the past 5 years.

Despite all of these conspiracies, Babar and Rizwan are still two of the most loved players in all of Pakistan.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Is he referring to Babar Azam here?

---------------------------

Owner of Lahore Qalandars, Sameen Rana speaking during Lahore Qalandars’ show, Inside out:

“On the field, you make all the decisions independently. I’m aware that you don’t succumb to external influences nor are you the kind of captain who will make decisions based on what others say. I know that you have to make your own decision.”

 

[MenInG]

Was the criticism of Babar as a 'scripted' (script following) captain justified based on his 2 games so far?

 

[mominsaigol]

Was the criticism of Babar as a 'scripted' (script following) captain justified based on his 2 games so far?

Tbh yes, I analysed the pattern in both games.

The pattern is usually, Shaheen bowls 2 overs first, Naseem bowls one, then either amir/Abass afridi bowls 2, then naseem comes back for 1 more completing 6.

Then spinners come in with abrar, shadab, chacha(chacha only bowls one or 2) and capping off with abass afridi finishing. And then naseem and shaheen end it.

Pattern only seems to change when under pressure and panic mode sets in, after that happens expect a spinner to bowl out of place, In this game it was abrar at the end, and in the past it was nawaz bowling at the end. And one of the pacers gets burnt put earlier then usual, with naseem being finished early.

That's a consistent pattern over the past few years that I've noticed.

Its always if Calm, bowl 3 pacers for 6, Bring 2 spinners and finish one pacer and bowl one part timer with chacha and finish the death with 2 pacers.

If panic mode, burn out your pacers early and have some spinners at the death lol.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Tbh yes, I analysed the pattern in both games.

The pattern is usually, Shaheen bowls 2 overs first, Naseem bowls one, then either amir/Abass afridi bowls 2, then naseem comes back for 1 more completing 6.

Then spinners come in with abrar, shadab, chacha(chacha only bowls one or 2) and capping off with abass afridi finishing. And then naseem and shaheen end it.

Pattern only seems to change when under pressure and panic mode sets in, after that happens expect a spinner to bowl out of place, In this game it was abrar at the end, and in the past it was nawaz bowling at the end. And one of the pacers gets burnt put earlier then usual, with naseem being finished early.

That's a consistent pattern over the past few years that I've noticed.

Its always if Calm, bowl 3 pacers for 6, Bring 2 spinners and finish one pacer and bowl one part timer with chacha and finish the death with 2 pacers.

If panic mode, burn out your pacers early and have some spinners at the death lol.

Agreed!

babar doesnt think anyhthing out of the box he just follows the plan which management gives but he doesn't change anything even when that plan doesn't work.

 

[mominsaigol]

Agreed!

babar doesnt think anyhthing out of the box he just follows the plan which management gives but he doesn't change anything even when that plan doesn't work.

When the plan doesn't work, his plan is to burn his pacers and leave spinners at the death lol. This man has no clue on how to read the opposition

 

[BouncerGuy]

The bowling again got exposed in the last game and whatever we say about Babar's captaincy, the bowling was just too poor. The easiest of catches were dropped that was not the fault of Babar tbh. The match was always Pakistan's game to win but as usual, our fielding let us down.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Babar Azam during addressing the media in a pre-match press conference ahead of the 4th T20I against New Zealand:

Q: Regarding pressure from media after defeat against New Zealand in 3rd T20I

Babar Azam: Look, you guys (media) talk a lot. Always you guys make up stuff. I never change plans after coming under someone's pressure. We always try to prioritize those things which are beneficial for our team and Pakistan. And I believe in it, and that's my strength.

 

[mominsaigol]

Babar Azam during addressing the media in a pre-match press conference ahead of the 4th T20I against New Zealand:

Q: Regarding pressure from media after defeat against New Zealand in 3rd T20I

Babar Azam: Look, you guys (media) talk a lot. Always you guys make up stuff. I never change plans after coming under someone's pressure. We always try to prioritize those things which are beneficial for our team and Pakistan. And I believe in it, and that's my strength.

I never change plans after coming under someone's pressure.

I wonder if Babar azam ever laughs at his own jokes

 

[Rana]

I never change plans after coming under someone's pressure.

I wonder if Babar azam ever laughs at his own jokes

He doesn’t mind pressure from Rizwan to move him to 4 instead of 5

 

[FearlessRoar]

2x ICC T20 World Cup winning skipper (2012, 2016)

ICC Champions Trophy winner

Wishing a very happy 41st birthday to the former West Indies all-rounder and current head coach, Daren Sammy.