Babar Azam Must Become A Leader Like Virat Kohli: Rashid Latif

Dec 12, 2020 at 11:43 AM

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Babar Azam Must Become A Leader Like Virat Kohli: Rashid Latif

Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan skipper, is impressed that current Pakistan captain – Babar Azam is gradually transforming himself into a leader like Indian skipper Virat Kohli has done over the years.

Rashid Latif commented that for Babar Azam to be a successful skipper in all three formats, he would have to learn from his Indian counterpart how the latter handed responsibilities as a skipper.

Rashid Latif
Rashid Latif. Twitter

Rashid Latif: Babar Azam Has To Become A Leader Like Virat Kohli Than Just Being Captain Of Team

Virat Kohli, who is regarded as the best contemporary batsman currently in the world averaging over 50 across all three formats. He was handed over the Test captaincy in 2014. In early 2017, he became the limited-overs captain as well. In ODIs, he has the second-highest number of centuries and the highest number of centuries in run-chases in the world.

“I think Babar has to become a leader like Virat rather than just being a captain of the team,” Rashid Latif told a Pakistani YouTube channel.

Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli. Image Credit: Twitter.

“Virat has developed into a leader and in cricket and sports, when you are made the captain, you have to become a leader,” Rashid Latif said.

“…and by that, I mean you have to be respected on and off the field. You have to stand up for your players and you have to take the hard and out of box decisions,” he said.

As skipper, Virat Kohli is India’s most successful test captain leading India to 33 test wins out of 55 test matches captained. In ODIs, his win percentage is 70.55 as, under him, India won 63 out of 92 matches he captained. In T20Is, he led India in 40 matches and India won 24 with a win percentage of 65.78.

Rashid Latif: Babar Azam Has The Makings Of A Good Leader For Exceptional Batting Talents

Babar Azam hasn’t led in tests and led Pakistan in 3 ODIs and 11 T20Is. In T20Is, Pakistan won 6 matches under him. In ODIs, Pakistan lost 1 and won 2. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced in November that Babar Azam would replace the under-pressure Azhar Ali as Test captain in the two-match forthcoming series in New Zealand.

Azhar Ali was criticized following Pakistan’s three-wicket defeat in England in August 2020, losing the three-match series 1-0. PCB said Babar Azam would be the three-format skipper after assuming the Twenty20 role last year and one-day captaincy in May 2020.

“You look at Virat today and he is a complete leader and his own stature as a batsman has also helped a lot. But you can see in the attitude of the Indian team and their selection, Virat has his say in everything,” he added.

Babar Azam
Babar Azam (Credits: Twitter)

“I think Babar is also on the right path and I felt he had his input in the squad selected for the New Zealand tour. I think 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,” Rashid Latif stated.

Babar Azam debuted in 2015 and the 26-year-old averages 45.45 in tests, 55.93 in ODIs and 50.93 in T20Is. Babar Azam has scored 17 international centuries, 5 in Test matches and 12 in One Day Internationals.

Rashid Latif commented that Babar Azam has the makings to become a good leader as he has game awareness which reflects in his batting.

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