Babar Azam Must Establish Himself As Match Winner: Shoaib Akhtar
Aug 21, 2021 at 4:16 PM
Shoaib Akhtar recently stated that Babar Azam must establish himself as a match-winner and cannot create a name as his team’s batting let them down in the first Test against England in Manchester. In a video, on Youtube, Pakistan pace legend Shoaib Akhtar said Pakistan wasted their opportunity to post a big score.
The first test saw Pakistan posting different totals in the two innings. In the first innings, Pakistan came out all guns blazing by scoring 300 plus and thereby earned a lead of over 100 runs. But in the second innings, they were bowled out for only 169 and set a target of 277 for England to chase. Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes struck half-centuries as England chased the target with three wickets remaining.
Shoaib Akhtar: Batsmen Should Capitalize On Lead, Otherwise Useless For Team
Pakistan opener Shan Masood, who scored 156 in the first innings was out for a duck in the second innings as Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes picked up wickets at regular intervals as apart from Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Rizwan, and Yasir Shah, the other batsmen failed to cross even 20 run mark. Babar Azam was out after scoring only 5 from 20 deliveries.
“Pakistan got an opportunity to put a big score but they made the same mistake that they have been doing since partition. That the batting lets us down,” he said.
“We needed partnerships, stroke-making only when you get loose balls. It was a great chance for Pakistan to put 350-400 runs on the board.”
The former seamer of Pakistan added that if a batsman fails to capitalize on a 107 run lead, then he is useless to the team.
“If you are not able to capitalize on a 107-run lead, however big a batsman you may be, you are of no use,” Akhtar said.
England despite reeling on 117 for 5 at one stage recovered through counter-attacking fifties from Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler and won the match by three wickets. Chris Woakes was unbeaten on 84, while Jos Buttler was out on 75 after stitching a 139 run partnership for the 6th wicket.
Shoaib Akhtar: Babar Azam Must Be A Match Winner
Babar Azam scored a brilliant half-century on the first day and was dismissed early on the second day. He scored only five runs in the second essay as Shoaib Akhtar went on saying that Babar Azam needs to be a match-winner to make a name for himself.
“Shan Masood was unlucky but he had already played his part. Asad Shafiq got run out, it is again his fault. But Babar Azam has to come out with something good, because you cannot create a name like this. You might be a good player, but you have to establish yourself as a match-winner,” Akhtar said.
By winning the first test, England has taken a 1-0 lead and meet Pakistan again on Thursday at Southampton in the second test of the three-match test series.