PAK vs NZ: "Pakistan Are Going To Struggle Badly If Babar Azam Has To Sit Out For Any Reason" - Salman Butt

Salman Butt, a former batsman, thinks that Pakistan’s squad may be in peril if captain Babar Azam is forced to sit out for whatever reason.

Addressing on his YouTube channel, Butt emphasised how Babar has recently been a top batsman for the Men in Green. He emphasised as soon the Pakistani captain is removed, the other teams will frequently overwhelm Pakistan.

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Babar Azam Is The Mainstay Of Pakistan’s Batting: Salman Butt

Butt clarified the significance of Babar as a batter by saying:

“Pakistan are going to struggle badly if Babar Azam has to sit out for any reason. He is the mainstay of this batting lineup across formats. When he gets out, the opposition gains the upper hand, and your chance of winning reduces drastically.”

Particularly during the team’s just-finished three-match home ODI series versus New Zealand, Babar displayed profound form. From three appearances, the great hitter scored 149 runs at an average of 49.66. The series ended with a 2-1 loss for the hosts.

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Salman Butt continued by saying that although Babar Azam has a track record of success as a batter, his captaincy may use some work.

He emphasised that when several prominent players are missing from the team, the Pakistani captain is at a loss for what to do. The 38-year-old added that Babar’s judgement has frequently fallen short of expectations.

Butt added:

“Babar Azam is an outstanding performer. He is one of the top players in the world and has also held the top position in the rankings for a very long time in two formats. The entire world has acknowledged him.

“But when we talk about his captaincy, there needs to be a lot of improvement. It is quite evident that he is short of ideas when he is on the field. He doesn’t seem to have a Plan B when there aren’t enough resources.”

Babar Azam Needs Support Of Team Management: Salman Butt

Butt recommended that Babar receive help from the Pakistani team management. He said that the side needed to establish a think tank to aid the captain in making wiser choices. He clarified:

“Whenever there is a situation like this, the captain needs to be a very good decision-maker. Or, he has to have a top-notch think thank, that is strategically very sound. If the captain lacks confidence, he needs the support of the team management. But here, the people who are part of the management are only concerned about themselves.”

If Babar Azam and company do better against New Zealand in a few months, they might be able to salvage their reputation. In April and May of this year, the two nations will face off in five T20Is and the equivalent number of ODIs.

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