Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal had criticized Babar Azam for not knowing how to captain the side despite being at the job for four years. This comes after a second-string New Zealand side defeated strong Pakistan team in the 5th T20I to square the series 2-2.
The fifth T20I was important for Pakistan as they were leading the series 2-1 with one game abandoned due to rain. Pakistan batted first and posted 193/5 with Mohammad Rizwan scoring 98* in 62 balls. Iftikhar Ahmed made 36 and Imad Wasim posted 31 in just 14 balls for Pakistan.
In reply, New Zealand was 73/4 in 10 overs, but then Shadab Khan dropped the all-important catch of Mark Chapman, who then proceeded to slaughter Pakistani bowling. Along with Jimmy Neesham for company, he scored his maiden T20I century-104* in 57 balls with 11 fours and 4 sixes.
Neesham made 45* in 25 balls and added 121* runs for the 5th wicket to take New Zealand to a 6-wicket win.
He Doesn’t Even Know Which Bowler To Send Out At What Time: Kamran Akmal On Babar Azam’s Captaincy
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Akmal slammed Babar, saying that even after four years of being in the position, he still doesn’t know how to handle it. He said that the 28-year-old was unable to make crucial decisions, such as which bowler to send out at what time.
“Speaking of their mistakes, they deflect and accuse us of criticism. But our focus is on their captaincy, not their performance. We’re not blind to their abilities. He (Babar Azam) still doesn’t know how to do captaincy after four years – he doesn’t even know which bowler to send out at what time. It’s no surprise that they lost when they continued to make the same mistakes. We didn’t control our errors, and that’s why they emerged victorious,” he said.
Akmal said that Babar should’ve given the ball to Shadab instead of Iftikhar Ahmed in the fifth T20I game.
“If both the left-handed batsmen were on the crease, the logical choice would have been to give the ball to Iftikhar Ahmed. But instead, we saw the leg-spinner Shadab Khan was given the over and was being continuously beaten by the Blackcaps batters. It would have been wise to rest him and bring in another all-rounder to give the team a chance to regain their footing,” he concluded.
Pakistan will now play New Zealand in a series of five ODIs as well.