PAK Vs AUS: Rashid Latif Calls Babar Azam And Mohammad Rizwan "Cowards" For "Bizarre" Spin Play

Former Pakistan cricket captain Rashid Latif didn’t hold back in his criticism of the senior Pakistani batsmen, particularly Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, for their seemingly timid approach against Indian spinners during the recent clash in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Latif’s comments have ignited a debate on the strategies employed by the Pakistani batting lineup, particularly against the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.

Rashid Latif pointed out the peculiar approach taken by Babar and Rizwan, highlighting their struggles in reading Kuldeep Yadav’s variations. In a surprising turn of events, they resorted to playing the sweep shot, which, according to Latif, is not a conventional choice for Asian cricketers. Instead, he noted that players from England and South Africa historically used the sweep shot when facing spinners like Abdul Qadir or Shane Warne.

“The way two of our senior batsmen [Babar and Rizwan] played Kuldeep and Jadeja was also bizarre. They were not able to read Kuldeep and all of a sudden, they started playing sweep shots. Sweep shots are not for the Asian cricketers. Players from England and South Africa used to play sweep when they didn’t pick Abdul Qadir or Shane Warne,” he stated.

The former captain stressed the importance of a proactive approach against spinners, emphasizing the need for Pakistani batsmen to use their feet effectively. He praised the techniques employed by Indian batters, Shreyas Iyer and Rohit Sharma, who displayed the courage to come down the pitch and play straight shots. This strategy, according to Latif, enables the accumulation of singles more easily and puts pressure on spinners.

“Look at the way Shreyas Iyer and Rohit Sharma play spin. Khuda ke liye (For god sake) use your feet, you have got two. One hit down the ground, Kuldeep and Jadeja would have easily given them five singles in one over. But instead, we were trying to sweep against them. There were two close calls as well,” Rashid Latif added.

Rashid Latif Calls Babar Azam A ‘Coward’

Rashid Latif went a step further in his critique, labeling batsmen who primarily depend on the sweep shot against spin as “cowards.” In his view, this approach reflects a defensive mindset, indicating fear or apprehension when confronting quality spin bowlers. He noted that Pakistan appeared timid against Kuldeep Yadav, seemingly content with merely surviving his ten overs, rather than actively looking to dominate.

The match against India highlighted the struggles faced by Pakistani batsmen in reading Kuldeep’s variations. Latif expressed concern that if Kuldeep continues to feature in upcoming matches without being rested, he could potentially emerge as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, given his effectiveness against the Pakistani lineup.

“Call me old school but in my opinion, those batters who just sweep against spin are cowards. They are playing sweep shots because they are scared of the bowlers. Against Kuldeep, we looked timid, we were trying to just play out his ten overs. Not a single Pakistan batsman was able to pick Kuldeep, and I think if he is not rested in a few matches, Kuldeep will end up being the leading wicket-taker of the tournament,” Rashid Latif concluded.

Rashid Latif’s critique underscores the importance of adaptability and strategy in the sport of cricket. It serves as a reminder that facing world-class spinners demands a proactive and fearless approach, rather than a purely defensive one. The ability to read and respond to variations, combined with the courage to play positively, are critical components of a batsman’s arsenal when confronting challenging spin bowlers.

As the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup progresses, it remains to be seen how Pakistan and other teams adapt their strategies to counter the formidable spinners they encounter. Latif’s commentary offers a thought-provoking perspective, urging Pakistan to approach such challenges with greater confidence and innovation in the matches ahead. It will be interesting to observe how these insights influence the team’s approach and performance moving forward.