Former Pakistan cricketers Abdul Razzaq and Sikandar Bakht have expressed their views on Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s batting technique, with both suggesting improvements and highlighting the team unity in the Indian cricket squad.
Razzaq, a former all-rounder, questioned Babar Azam’s classification as a world-class batsman.
“Fakhar Zaman is the number one batter. New Zealand batters praised him. Our captain lacks that class. Look at Rohit, he’s prepared to score 10 runs in the first over and 15 in the second. Our captain has a different playing style, but he should observe what Rohit is doing,” he said.
“World-class players are those who seize the game from the opposition. In our era, it was Matthew Hayden, Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting,” he added.
“‘We kept talking about the world’s number one batter. I want to ask whether it helps in getting good contracts. It seems like he tops in the class but fails in the matric exam,” former Pakistan pacer Sikandar Bakht said on Geo Super.
Razzaq also credited Rohit Sharma for India’s success, attributing it to their unity and confidence. He commended India for adapting to home conditions effectively, noting their strategic approach to batting and aggressive bowling tactics. Bakht agreed, acknowledging India’s strength in both batting and bowling, especially in home conditions.
While discussing the influence of home conditions, Razzaq praised India for capitalizing on their familiarity with the pitches.
“India is capitalizing on the home advantage. Their approach against South Africa in the initial ten overs provided them with an edge. From overs 11 to 30, they were content with scoring three to four runs per over. In the last 10 overs, they increased their intensity. Despite knowing that 250 would be sufficient on this pitch, they opted for an aggressive brand of cricket,” he added.
Bakht supported this perspective, referencing India’s performance in Sri Lanka and the Asia Cup final, where they bundled out Sri Lanka for 50. He emphasized the importance of a strong bowling unit and acknowledged India’s overall proficiency in both spin and pace.