Shoaib Akhtar and Aakash Chopra Analyze Babar Azam’s Captaincy Decisions in India vs Pakistan Match

After the marquee matchup between India and Pakistan, Babar Azam’s leadership came under scrutiny. Both former players from India and Pakistan, including Shoaib Akhtar and Aakash Chopra, shared their insights on Azam’s captaincy decisions. The match, unfortunately, ended in a washout, but the analysis continues.

Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf’s Impressive Bowling

In the early stages of the game, it appeared that Pakistan’s fast bowlers were in control. Shaheen Afridi’s remarkable performance, with figures of 4-35 in his quota of 10 overs, put India under immense pressure. Haris Rauf also contributed with figures of 4-66. These early successes raised hopes for Pakistan’s victory.

Spinners’ Entry and Delayed Return of Pacers

Despite the initial success of the fast bowlers, Babar Azam decided to introduce spinners and held back his pacers. Unfortunately, this strategy did not yield any wickets, and it allowed India to stabilize their innings. As the match progressed, the pacers returned, but the damage had already been done.

“Pakistan fast bowling has done wonders. Pakistan should have continued with pacers with short two-over spells from one end and operated spin from only one end. Pakistan should have bowled India out inside 40 overs itself. Pakistan should have capitalized after reducing India to 66-4. Babar Azam needs to be more aggressive as a captain,” Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.

A Missed Opportunity According to Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra, a former Indian cricketer turned commentator, expressed his thoughts on Azam’s captaincy decisions. He believed that Pakistan should have been more proactive in their strategy to bowl out India much earlier. Chopra emphasized the missed opportunity to use the seamers properly.

“Babar Azam got his spinners to bowl 21 overs when the opposing team was 66/4. You had 30 overs of fast bowling. I think he missed a huge trick and because of that, he allowed India to prosper. It’s good, we don’t mind, but Pakistan should actually look inward and say that there was a captaincy error. The first was closed and you opened it and when you try to grab it again, it becomes slightly late,” said Chopra.

Irfan Pathan Highlights Spinners’ Impact

Former Indian Pacer Irfan Pathan also shared his perspective on social media. He pointed out that the spinners’ impact was significant, as they conceded 133 runs without taking a wicket in 21 overs. Pathan highlighted the difference in the fast bowling options between India and Pakistan, emphasizing that Team India would have maintained their pace attack in a similar situation.

“21 overs 133 runs from spinners without a wicket was a game changer. If India were bowling and Pakistan were 66/4, India would have kept fast bowling on as they had the liberty of 4 fast bowlers unlike Pakistan who were playing with 3. So, I thought Team India would have been more disappointed with the rain after scoring above par score on that pitch which had variable bounce,” Pathan wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Super-Four Stage and the Road Ahead

Pakistan advanced to the Super-four stage of the tournament following the Saturday night draw. In contrast, India now faces the task of avoiding a loss against Nepal on Monday to secure their spot in the Super Four. The rain-marred match added an element of unpredictability to the tournament’s outcome.

In conclusion, the India vs. Pakistan match saw Babar Azam’s captaincy decisions come under the microscope. Former players and experts shared their perspectives on the timing and utilization of bowlers. While the match ended in a washout, the debate surrounding Babar Azam’s leadership continues as both teams move forward in the tournament.

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