Dinesh Karthik raised concerns over Babar Azam’s form and leadership during Pakistan’s Test series against Bangladesh.
Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has voiced concerns about Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s recent struggles during the Test series against Bangladesh. Karthik acknowledged Babar’s exceptional batting skills but emphasized the heavy burden he carries as captain, which might be impacting his performance.
In the second rain-affected Test, Babar managed to score 31 runs off 77 deliveries in the first innings. Earlier in the series, during the first Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan suffered a shocking 10-wicket defeat, marking their first-ever Test loss to Bangladesh. Babar had a tough outing, getting dismissed for a duck in the first innings and scoring only 22 runs in the second innings, narrowly avoiding a second duck due to a dropped catch.
Speaking on Cricbuzz’s show “Hey CB with DK,” Karthik praised Babar’s abilities but highlighted the pressure he faces as captain. “Babar Azam as a player, nobody can doubt his quality. He’s got outstanding batting potential, though I feel he’s under a lot of pressure,” Karthik remarked.
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Karthik also criticized Pakistan’s strategy to declare early in their first innings of the opening Test against Bangladesh. He stressed the importance of posting a big total and batting for an extended period, especially in Asian conditions, to exert pressure on the opposition. “That’s something they need to rethink. In that Test match against Bangladesh, I thought they declared a touch too early. In Asia, it’s about batting big and batting long in the first innings,” Karthik added.
Nevertheless, as Pakistan looks forward to the second Test, the team aims to bounce back and level the series while earning crucial points in the ICC World Test Championship.
Last Updated on August 31, 2024
