Kaneria Critiques Babar and Rizwan’s Batting Intent and Team Performance
Danish Kaneria has criticized Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan for underperforming in the ICC Champions Trophy, particularly against strong teams. While both have had moments of success, their conservative batting styles contributed to Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament. Kaneria advocates for a stronger selection process and accountability within the team, along with discussing future captaincy options.
Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has criticized Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan for their lackluster performances during the ICC Champions Trophy, particularly against stronger teams. Both players have struggled significantly, with Babar managing only 87 runs and Rizwan 49 in their initial matches. Kaneria pointed out that despite Babar’s occasional successes, they often come against weaker teams like Zimbabwe, indicating a troubling trend in batting intent against formidable opponents.
Babar’s effort in a match against New Zealand was met with harsh scrutiny after he scored 64 runs off 90 balls while chasing a target of 321. Rizwan exhibited a similar lack of aggression by scoring 46 runs off 77 balls against India, contributing to a total that ultimately led to Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament. Kaneria noted that their conservative batting styles contributed to Pakistan being knocked out within just five days.
Kaneria highlighted that Babar has not scored an international century since August 2023 and has underwhelming statistics since then, with no centuries and only a handful of fifties in 24 ODIs. While Rizwan has performed better in terms of averages, his strike rate is significantly below his career average, which has hindered the team’s performance. This conservative approach adopted by both players is a matter of concern for Pakistan cricket.
Regarding the captaincy, Kaneria believes Rizwan should continue in his role, as there are experienced leaders like Babar and Shaheen in the team. However, he criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board for favoring players who agree with their decisions, suggesting that true leadership should not be limited to conforming to the board’s expectations. Kaneria expressed that there is a possibility of Saud Shakeel being considered for captaincy due to his current form but warns against burdening him with such a responsibility too soon.
He also posited that if Rizwan chooses to resign from captaincy, veteran cricketer Fakhar Zaman could be a worthy candidate due to his fearless playing style. Kaneria emphasized the need for a more robust selection process within the team, advocating for players to be given adequate evaluation periods and held accountable for their performances. He criticized the current selection approach as being based on personal relationships rather than merit, stating that Pakistan cricket must change its perspective and focus on achieving results through hard work and commitment.
Danish Kaneria has expressed substantial concern regarding Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan’s batting performances during the ICC Champions Trophy, emphasizing a lack of intent against stronger teams. He believes that their conservative approaches have jeopardized Pakistan’s chances in crucial matches. Kaneria advocates for a stricter selection process, signaling the need for accountability and performance-based evaluations within the squad, alongside considering alternative captaincy options for the future.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
