Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli mentioned as Rashid Latif issues ultimatum to Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan; calls for batters' axing

Former Pakistan cricketer and coach Rashid Latif has challenged Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to learn from Rohit Sharma how to change their tactics in the shortest format. Rashid Khan also heaped praises on Rohit Sharma for changing his natural approach in the shortest format during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. 

Rohit Sharma led Team India to the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 title by defeating South Africa in the final. Notably, Sharma also played multiple valuable knocks across 8 games to help Team India win. The Rohit Sharma & Co. did not lose a single game to emerge T20 Champions for the second time. 

The India skipper slammed 257 runs for India during the tournament at a strike rate of 156+. He also slammed 3 half-centuries with a top knock of 92 and finished as the second-highest run-getter overall. 

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Rohit Sharma changed himself for T20Is: Rashid Latif 

Former Pakistan all-rounder Rashid Latif heaped praises on Rohit Sharma for the way he changed his approach in T20Is. As per Pakistani journalist Saj Sadiq on Twitter, he noted how Sharma increased his strike rate to improve his batting in the shortest format. 

"If Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli can change their approach in T20Is, then why can't Babar Azam? I will give you an example of Rohit Sharma. Have you seen the 50 Overs game? He changed himself. He changed himself by 190 degrees. It is possible to change. Because he made his decision that I will change myself", Latif said.  

If you look at the IPL history, I was working in the same year. His strike rate was 140-138. If you look at the last two years, it has gone up to 160. He changed himself. The same thing happened with Virat Kohli. When these two batsmen can be, then everyone can be", the 55-year-old further added. 

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Rashid Latif challenges Babar-Rizwan to change their batting approach 

Rashid Latif, who represented the Pakistan national team from 1992 to 2003, also challenged Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to change their batting style in T20Is like Sharma. He also added he would give them 5-8 matches to do it. 

"The player is missing. How do you make me play? Maybe I will play in a different way.  I will tell Babar, you have to play like this. I will give you five matches.  Five matches means five matches. That's all. After that, you don't have a place in the team". 

"There should be people who make such decisions. Rizwan, this is your number. This is the requirement. I am not giving you one match. Fine, I can give you eight matches", he concluded. Have a look at the entire video below.

Rashid Latif "I would give Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan 5 matches to change their batting approach in T20Is and if they won't, then there should be no place in the team for them" #Cricket pic.twitter.com/0nH5PoiMkJ

— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) July 2, 2024

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan struggled with strike rates in T20 World Cup 

Notably, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan came up with a poor show in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. They were the most senior members of Pakistan; which could not even surpass the Group stage by losing to the USA and India. 

Babar Azam scored 122 runs in 4 games at an average of 40+ and a top knock of 44. Rizwan slammed 110 runs in 4 games averaging 36+. However, they had a strike rate of 101+ and 90+ respectively, which was quite low by T20I standards.