The T20 World Cup has been a rollercoaster for Pakistan, and former pacer Mohammad Amir, now known as 'Amir Baba' for his spot-on predictions, has a bold forecast: Salman Ali Agha's captaincy might be in jeopardy post-tournament. Amir's insight comes after Pakistan's crushing defeat to England, which all but ended their World Cup journey. With England securing their semi-final spot, Pakistan's fate now hinges on other teams' outcomes and their own final Super Eight match against Sri Lanka. Amir believes that Agha's leadership may not be the best fit for the team's current state, stating, 'I don't see a suitable replacement at the moment.' He also hints at a potential generational shift, suggesting that this World Cup could be a last hurrah for many players.
Adding fuel to the fire, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif delivered a scathing critique. He called into question Babar Azam's suitability for the T20 format, especially after his recall just six months ago due to concerns about his strike rate. Latif pointed out that the team management had initially promised Babar's return once his scoring rate improved, but he questioned the timing of this decision. 'When did it improve? Why did you bring him back?' he demanded.
Latif's criticism didn't stop there. He also took aim at Pakistan's batting strategy, arguing that modern T20 cricket demands players who can shift gears and control chases. He explained that when a batter lingers on the crease for too long without accelerating, it puts pressure on the other end, forcing incoming players into risky shots. Latif emphasized the importance of set batters taking responsibility and batting deep, especially when their partners struggle to score freely.
Furthermore, Latif drew a comparison between Pakistan's approach and that of opposition batters who keep the scoreboard moving under pressure. He noted that successful players can 'play from both ends' and maintain control, whereas Pakistan's batters often fail to accelerate at the right moment. This lack of timely aggression has been a recurring theme in their performances.
Another former opener, Ahmed Shehzad, also weighed in on the decision-making during the innings, highlighting missed opportunities for quick singles and doubles. He questioned why a player with extensive international experience continues to struggle against quality leg-spin. Referring to the match against England, Shehzad pointed out the moment Babar nearly lost his wicket to a googly from Adil Rashid. He questioned if this was the improvement they were hoping for, suggesting that players must accept their weaknesses and adapt to the demands of T20 cricket, including power-hitting and calculated risk-taking, for any real progress to be made.
