Danish Kaneria has criticized Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan for their poor performances in the ICC Champions Trophy, emphasizing that their lack of intent against strong opposition contributed to Pakistan’s early exit. He calls for stricter player evaluations and hints at potential leadership changes in the team.
Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has criticized premier batters Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan for their underwhelming performances during the ICC Champions Trophy. Notably, Babar scored 87 runs against Bangladesh and 49 against India, while Rizwan accumulated 64 runs against New Zealand. Their conservative approaches significantly hindered Pakistan’s chances, leading to an early tournament exit within just five days.
Kaneria expressed disappointment with Babar’s batting intent, stating, “Babar has not scored runs for so long. But when he scores, it is against Zimbabwe or against smaller teams. If he scores against big teams, there is no intent at all.” He also highlighted the lack of depth in the batting lineup and noted that Rizwan’s performance has not matched his potential, advocating for stricter evaluations by the Pakistan Cricket Board regarding player selection and performance assessments.
While Rizwan continues as the white-ball captain, Kaneria speculated that his lack of assertiveness may be attributed to the influence of the board preferring compliant leaders. Kaneria proposed that Saud Shakeel could be a future captain due to his impressive performances. Additionally, he suggested that if Rizwan were to resign from the captaincy, Fakhar Zaman could be a viable alternative due to his fearless playing style.
In summary, Danish Kaneria’s critique of Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan centers on their lack of performance against major teams and overall batting intent. He advocates for better player evaluations by the Pakistan Cricket Board and suggests a potential shift in leadership towards more assertive players. This analysis raises essential considerations about the current state of Pakistan cricket and its future direction.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
