Imad Wasim makes stunning claim about Babar Azam
Azam has failed to impress during the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023
All-rounder Imad Wasim made a stunning claim about Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam after the Men in Green lost to Australia in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 on Friday.
It must be noted that Australia defeated Pakistan by 62 runs in the 18th match of the mega event at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
During the match, Azam failed to impress as he was out after scoring 18 runs in 14 balls.
While speaking on Haarna Mana Hay, Wasim said that Azam has not won a match for Pakistan against a big team since 2019.
“At the world stage there is pressure but it is also the place where you prove your worth. I think the last time Babar performed in a big match was against New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup, when he scored a century. But after that he is yet to win a big match for Pakistan. This is not criticism but a fact,” said Wasim.
“Being the number one batter in ODIs, it is Babar’s responsibility to win matches but questions will be raised if he doesn’t do that. He needs bat in accordance with the team’s requirement. He has the ability to dominate bowlers and this World Cup is the place to do that,” he added.
The Aussies managed to restrict the Green Shirts to 305 runs after posting a colossal 368-run target courtesy of a 259-run stand from David Warner and Mitchell Marsh.
Pakistan were off to a great start as their opening duo of Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique had a 134-run partnership — the first time a Pakistani opening pair had a century stand against Australia in a World Cup match.
Pakistan were 154-2 in 23.4 overs — after losing Abdullah and Imam — and were in dire need of a big partnership to get back in the team but their skipper Azam was removed by Adam Zampa just after scoring 18 runs courtesy of an excellent catch by Pat Cummins.
The Green Shirts kept on losing wickets at regular intervals but after the arrival of Iftikhar Ahmed, it looked like Pakistan would get in the game once again as the 33-year-old started hitting boundaries.
But Adam Zampa provided the Aussies the much-needed breakthrough and removed Iftikhar and Mohammad Rizwan in back-to-back overs.
The Green Shirts were all out for 305 runs in 45.3 overs.
Batting first, Australia posted 367 runs on the scoreboard, recording the biggest total against Pakistan in the World Cup.
Shaheen Afridi was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan as the 23-year-old bagged five wickets, his second World Cup fifer.
