Babar Azam responds to Shoaib Akhtar’s comment on lack of stars in Pakistan team

Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam, in a virtual press conference on Wednesday, responded to former pacer Shoaib Akhtar’s comments on the lack of stars in the national side by saying that all players were giving their 100 per cent. 

The 26-year-old stated that he wouldn’t argue with Akhtar or give his comments on the matter. 

“I think he [Shoaib Akhtar] doesn’t think so, but all the players are giving their 100 per cent everywhere. I think you should ask him who a star is and who isn't. I can't argue or give comments on this,” Babar said. 

The prolific batsman believed that Pakistan had enough runs on the board in the third One-Day International (ODI) against England despite their eventual defeat. 

“If we talk about the batting, the ball was coming on with a bit of double pace early on. We were trying to get a partnership going. The longer we took it, the better for us because we could have recovered towards the end. I had a partnership with Imam and then another good one with Mohammad Rizwan. I think the score was enough. We could have scored more but lost some back-to-back wickets,” he said. 

“In the first two matches, our batting let us down. We lost early wickets in the first ten overs. We didn’t have momentum because of that. I have said it before as well that we lost the match today because of bowling and fielding,” he added. 

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The skipper was adamant that he would back his team during this tough phase. 

“Waqar [Younis] bhai has been working with all bowlers. I think the bowlers didn’t bowl their line and lengths right on the pitch. The bowlers had given outstanding performances in our recent home and away series. Everyone has bad days, but I will back my team. We will try to sit down and discuss our mistakes. When you sit down and discuss, it makes things easier. I will keep trying to back my team and the more I do it, the better it is for the team. Our bowlers have won us many matches and will continue to do so,” he concluded.