'Don’t think he is cut out for the job'- Shoaib Akhtar questions Babar Azam's credentials after Asia Cup 2022 debacle

Shoaib Akhtar heavily criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after they officially announced the 15-member squad for next month's T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. Akhtar was disappointed at the team selection, stating that they failed to address the middle-order woes that were badly exposed in the recently-concluded Asia Cup 2022.

Apart from the middle-order concerns, the 'Rawalpindi Express' has also questioned Babar Azam's batting and captaincy methods following the Asia Cup debacle. Even though the Men in Green did make the semis of last year's T20 World Cup and the final of this edition under Babar, his captaincy tactics came under the scanner in crucial matches.

What kind of method is this to find form? : Shoaib Akhtar

“I don’t think the captain is cut out for the job in this format. He is looking for classic drives to rediscover his touch instead of trying to play close to the body. He just wants to look classic. What kind of method is this to find form?” wondered Akhtar while speaking on his YouTube channel.

Babar Azam who has been in good form across formats for the last couple of years had a disastrous Asia Cup campaign in the UAE as he could only manage 68 runs from six innings at a strike rate of 107.93 including a duck. The lackluster performances also saw him losing his top spot in the T20I rankings to teammate and opening partner Mohammad Rizwan. 

The Pakistani batting superstar would now be hoping to regain his lost mojo and also polish his captaincy skills as the Men in Green host England in seven T20Is starting Tuesday, September 20. The key focus will however be on Pakistan's brittle middle-order that has been a cause of concern once Babar and Rizwan are dismissed.

The inconsistency in the middle-order during the Asia Cup meant that Pakistan were bowled out thrice including suffering an awkward batting collapse in the title clash against Sri Lanka where they failed to chase 171 and went down by 23 runs despite Mohammad Rizwan's half-century.