I don't think Babar Azam will make runs in T20 World Cup final: Aakash Chopra

Babar Azam is all set to lead Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022 final clash against England at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday (November 13). Both teams deserve to be in the final after their dominating victories in the semi-final round. England beat tournament favorites India in the second semi-final clash by ten wickets while Pakistan knocked out New Zealand by seven wickets.

Pakistani skipper played a crucial role in the semi-final clash with 53 runs off 42 balls but he has been below-par in the tournament. He couldn't score anything substantial from the opening four Super 12 group-stage games but showed little glimpses of returning to his best with a 25-run knock against Bangladesh in the last group-stage fixture and fifty against the Kiwis.

The former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra also reckoned that Babar's form has come at the right time but stated that the player will not score runs in the final. Aakash also added that even if Babar scores runs then he will struggle with strike rate. Babar has scored 92 runs from six innings at a poor strike rate of 87.61 in this tournament so far.

"The batting form has come at the right time. Babar was not scoring runs, he batted well in the semi-finals. He is still second fiddle if you make him stand next to Mohammad Rizwan. The captain scoring runs is a good thing but I don't think he will make runs today. Even if he scores runs, he will do it extremely slowly," Aakash Chopra said while speaking on his YouTube channel.

Mohammad Rizwan will struggle against English pacers: Aakash Chopra

Aakash also pointed out that Mohammad Rizwan remains a key player for the final but will struggle against English pacers Chris Woakes and Sam Curran. In comparison to his opening partner, Rizwan has done well in this World Cup with 160 runs from six innings at a strike rate of 109.58. English pacers Sam Curran and Mark Wood have been in sensational form in this tournament and are likely to dominate the final at MCG.

"Mohammad Rizwan is a key player because he drives the game fast. But seaming conditions - Chris Woakes, Sam Curran - he might get troubled there. Ben Stokes might also pick up a wicket at the start in this match," Aakash added.