Babar Azam may seem meek but is mentally very strong: Rashid Latif

Former wicketkeeper believes Pakistan’s all-format captain is on the right track

PHOTO: AFP

Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif believes that Babar Azam can transform into a good leader due to his mental toughness and game awareness, which is reflected from his batting.

While speaking on Cricket Baaz YouTube channel, the former captain said that Pakistan’s all-format captain is on the right track since he is enforcing his authority in team selection.

"I think Babar is on the right path and I felt he had his input in the squad selected for the New Zealand tour," Latif said.

"Babar because of his exceptional batting talents has the makings of a good leader. He may seem meek and an introvert but he is mentally very strong and has game awareness and you can see this in his batting," he added.

ALSO READ: Taylor dropped as New Zealand announce T20I squad for Pakistan series

Latif also added that Babar needs to take a leaf out of Indian captain Virat Kohli's book and support his players in order to earn the respect of his teammates.

"Babar has to become a leader like Virat rather than just being a captain of the team," he said. "Virat has developed into a leader. He is respected on and off the field. As a leader, you have to stand up for your players and you have to take the hard and out of box decisions. You look at Virat today and he is a complete leader and his own stature as a batsman has also helped a lot."

Last week, Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar also said that Babar needs to become a “man of steel” if he wants to lead the team for a long period of time.

“When you come in the limelight and go on the path of becoming a real star, some people will try to bring you down and make you suffer. That is the time when you have to show what you are made of. Babar Azam now needs to evolve as a captain, player and batsman so that everyone knows that he is a man of steel,” said Akhtar while speaking during a show on PTV Sports.

“If you are not a man of steel then there will be no one backing you,” he added.