Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has made a bold statement, suggesting that Mohammad Rizwan should be appointed as the new captain of the Pakistan cricket team, replacing Babar Azam.
Rizwan’s Leadership Shines in Champions Cup
Batting first, the Markhors posted a total of 231 runs in 45 overs. The Stallions struggled in response, collapsing to just 105 runs, with Zahid Mahmood delivering an outstanding bowling performance that saw him take five wickets for only 18 runs.
Ali, who played 24 Tests and 11 ODIs for Pakistan, praised Rizwan’s leadership qualities and game sense, claiming that even Babar Azam couldn’t match his pitch-reading abilities. He expressed his belief that Rizwan’s absence from the captaincy role is a significant loss for the nation.
“The way Rizwan led the side, he proved there is no better skipper than him. He has shown it with his captaincy. He read the pitch; it is a big thing. Even Babar can’t do that. I am not even talking about Shan. If you don’t make him captain at this time, then it is a loss for Pakistan. This is the best time you should make Rizwan the captain,” Ali said on his YouTube channel.
Babar Azam’s Struggles as Captain
Babar Azam has faced increasing criticism for his captaincy in recent times, following a series of disappointing results. Pakistan’s failure to qualify for the Asia Cup 2023 final, their early exit from the ODI World Cup 2023, and their group stage elimination from the T20 World Cup 2024 have raised questions about his leadership abilities.
His batting form has also come under scrutiny, with a poor performance in the recent 0-2 series loss against Bangladesh. In contrast, Rizwan has excelled with the bat, finishing as the highest run-scorer in both the ODI World Cup 2023 and the series against Bangladesh.
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Could Rizwan Be the Solution?
Given his impressive performances both as a captain and a batsman, Rizwan appears to be a strong candidate for the captaincy role. His ability to read the pitch and make astute tactical decisions could be a valuable asset to the Pakistan team.
However, the decision of whether to replace Babar Azam as captain is ultimately one for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to make. It remains to be seen whether the PCB will heed Basit Ali’s advice and make a change in leadership.
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