IND vs PAK: Babar Azam told to learn from Virat Kohli by Pakistan's former captain after loss to USA

Former Pakistan wicket-keeper Rashid Latif slammed Babar Azam for Pakistan's loss to the USA yesterday and asked him to learn from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Babar Azam's Men in Green were playing their opening Group A game of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 against co-hosts and first-timers USA. Both the teams had never played against each other in a T20 World Cup edition with yesterday's clash being their first-ever meeting. And the result of the match was unexpected.

Pakistan squandered every opportunity to win yesterday

USA, led by Gujarat-born batter Monank Patel outplayed and outclassed the Pakistanis first in the regulation 40-over game and then in the 12-ball Super Over. Babar Azam and co. had managed to post 159 runs on the board which at first seemed like a defendable total given their lethal bowling attack.

However, the entire complexion of the match changed in the 18th, 19th, and 20th over.

With 5 needed off the last ball, USA's Nitish Kumar struck a boundary in front of premier pacer Haris Rauf and tied the game unexpectedly. The match went down to Super Over with the hosts batting first. Mohammad Amir was given the onus to deliver a tight over but he ended up conceding 18 runs which Pakistan failed to chase down and lost by 5 runs.

What did Rashid Latif say to Babar Azam?

While speaking in his latest YouTube video, Rashid Latif had a harsh choice of words for Babar Azam, who was also upset after the loss. Latif claimed that Pakistan's journey now in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is all set to become much more difficult as they will have plenty of pressure in their next game against India.

Rashid Latif feels that Babar Azam and co will be under immense pressure not because of their Super 8 and knockout hopes but because they face India next.

"The focus is on the game on June 9 against India. Babar will be under a lot of pressure because of the game against India rather than performing in the World Cup." - Rashid Latif said via his latest YT video.

Latif then made the big statement directed towards Babar Azam. The former wicket-keeper batsman expressed his disappointment to see Babar failing to handle the team during pressure situations. And for him to learn that skill, the right-hand batter should learn from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who are masters in this art.

Latif admitted that Rohit and Virat know how to carry a game and said that Babar, the batter might be one of the world's best but he is terrible as a leader. Probably every former Pakistan cricketer and all the Pakistani fans will feel the same way as Latif.

"But he has to learn to carry pressure, he should learn that from Virat and Rohit. They know how to carry the game. As a batter, Babar is one of the best but as a captain and leader, there's a lot that he needs to learn." - Rashid Latif concluded.