In a candid assessment of Pakistan’s strategy during their washed-out Asia Cup 2023 group stage match against India, former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar expressed his disagreement with captain Babar Azam’s decision to rely heavily on spin bowling.
During the match, Pakistan’s pace attack had dismantled India’s top-order with the new ball, reducing them to 66-4. However, the spin trio of Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, and Salman Ali Agha failed to make an impact, giving away 131 runs in 21 overs without taking a wicket. Pakistan went on to drop Mohammad Nawaz in favor of Faheem Ashraf, a fourth seamer, in their opening Super Fours contest against Bangladesh, which they won convincingly by seven wickets.
Shoaib Akhtar said
Shoaib Akhtar argued that Babar Azam should have maintained the pace attack from one end to trouble the Indian batters and used a spinner from the other end. He emphasized that Pakistan should not have given up on the attack and instead focused on taking wickets.
“I don’t think Babar should have given that many overs to spinners. He could have kept the pace battery intact from one end and a spinner from the other. That is where I disagree with Babar, he used spin too much and gave up on the attack.”
Despite his critique, Akhtar acknowledged the improvements in Babar Azam’s captaincy, which have led Pakistan to become the No. 1-ranked ODI team. He stressed that Babar’s mindset should remain aggressive, aiming to take wickets and bowl out the opposition rather than relying solely on the bowlers to complete their allotted 50 overs.
“He is a far more better captain than he was two years ago. Babar’s mindset has to be aggressive he should keep thinking about taking wickets and bowl out the opposition, and not let the bowlers bowl the entire 50 overs,” the former pacer added.
Pakistan is currently unbeaten in the Asia Cup 2023 and has a strong chance of winning both the Asia Cup and the upcoming ODI World Cup. The team’s standout feature is its potent pace bowling unit, comprising Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Mohammed Wasim Jr.
Shoaib Akhtar praised these young fast bowlers, particularly highlighting Shaheen Shah Afridi’s current peak form. He encouraged Naseem Shah and others to focus on taking wickets rather than being stock bowlers, believing that Pakistan’s pace trio is among the best in the world.
“These youngsters are very, very talented. It gives me so much happiness to think that Pakistan is being able to produce such fast bowlers over and over again. I would say Shaheen Shah Afridi is bowling is at the top of his career right now, and Haris Rauf has the same mindset, that he just has to keep picking wickets,” Akhtar concluded.
While Akhtar noted a slight weakness in Pakistan’s spin bowling department, he asserted that Pakistan, as the No. 1-ranked ODI team, would be one of the favorites for the 2023 ODI World Cup. He emphasized the challenge of beating Pakistan in India due to both teams having strong pace attacks and spin options.
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