PCB should arrange dinner for Babar with Waugh, Ponting: Saqlain

Pakistan’s legendary off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, in a YouTube video, claimed that Pakistan’s limited-overs captain and prolific batsman, Babar Azam, possesses all the essential ingredients of leadership but will have to sit with the world's best leaders to learn the tricks of the trade.

The 43-year-old stated that Babar's confidence level and batting skills were matchless and he had been exhibiting outstanding performances right from the start. He proposed that Babar should sit with the game's great like former captains Imran Khan and Wasim Akram to learn the art of leadership. He also asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to arrange Babar's meetings with Australian cricket greats Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting and England's Andrew Strauss, who had won tough Ashes series.

"Whenever Pakistan's series takes place with another country the management should arrange his meetings with erstwhile greats of that country so that he may pick up their brains. He'll also have to learn how to handle media. The PCB's media department can help in that," said Saqlain.

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Saqlain also disagreed with the proposal by some quarters that Babar Azam should learn English as he had to talk during the toss and post-match presentations as well as giving interviews to the media.

"Asking him to learn English is totally irrelevant. He knows Urdu and needs nothing else [to express himself]. There are several world leaders who speak in their mother tongues. An interpreter can explain whatever he says.

"However, if you have time there is no harm in acquiring a second language, but I believe it's not as that important for you as a captain. I believe he has leadership qualities and that's why he's been given the reins of team's stewardship," he added.

The former off-spinner believed that it was vital for Babar to find out the best tactics to lead to the team and ways to execute those plans.

"I think it is very important for him to find out how to lead the team and execute his plans. Obviously, there is a need for him to sit with the best [team] leaders; have a cup of tea with them and do some gossip with the intent to learn how to take along his team," he concluded.