Afridi, Kaif question Babar Azam’s match-finishing ability

Former Pakistan captain, Shahid Afridi, and former Indian cricketer, Mohammad Kaif, have expressed doubts about skipper Babar Azam's match-finishing abilities through out the ongoing ICC 2023 World Cup scheduled in India. 

In a recent interview with a local media channel, Afridi stated that that while Babar is undoubtedly a talented player, his ability to finish matches and anchor the innings has come into question.

"When Babar Azam is at the crease, everyone expects him to contribute 50-60 runs to the scoreboard. On the other hand, Virat and KL Rahul not only score runs but also ensure that they remain at the crease until the end to help India secure victory," Afridi said.

The former all-rounder also noted that when the national team skipper is at the crease, fans and experts alike expect him to contribute significantly to the team's total.

"But sometimes, it becomes challenging to explain to Babar Azam's fans what the team requires from the player. We label Babar as a great player, but sustaining that level is a formidable task," he said.

On the otherhand, Kaif has raised questions regarding Babar's capacity to effectively conclude matches through aggressive hitting.

"The dismissal shows that when he changes gears, it is not his game. When he tries to hit balls out of the boundary, he gets caught on the line. It is not his strength; he is a touch player. If you ask him to score runs at a fast pace after 60 balls, he probably does not have the ability that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have," Kaif remarked.

It is worth noting that the 29-year-old has so far scored 216 runs in seven matches, boasting an average of 30.85 and a strike rate of 77.69, which includes three half-centuries.