Aakash Chopra reveals the reason of dropping Babar Azam from his current best ODI XI

Aakash Chopra, on Monday, picked his current best ODI XI and had to make some tough calls to balance his team properly. He left out Pakistan’s limited-overs captain Babar Azam and named him as the 12th man of the team. He also didn’t pick the New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson in the team which surprised many. However, West Indies opener Shai Hope made the cut in his side ahead which irked a Pakistan fan who questioned Chopra over the same.

As far as the XI is concerned, the former India cricketer formed a strong team with Rohit Sharma opening the innings alongside Hope. The middle-order comprised of Virat Kohli, Ross Taylor and Eoin Morgan. Aakash Chopra also chose Morgan as the captain of his team. Shakib Al Hasan and Ben Stokes were the all-rounders of his team who also bowl 10 overs of their quota more often than not.

Aakash then formed a potent bowling attack led by Mitchell Starc and picked Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson as well. The only specialist spinner in the XI was the chinaman, Kuldeep Yadav who has made a name for himself in international cricket over the last couple of years.

Please see Shai Hope’s runs, says Aakash Chopra to a Pakistan fan

Even Aakash Chopra must have felt hard done with the fact that he had to leave out the talented Babar Azam from his team. For the same reason, he named him as the 12th man. But the Pakistan fan felt he has made a mistake by dropping the team’s ODI and T20I skipper. However, the 42-year-old clarified that Shai Hope has scored a lot of runs in the last couple of years and has been one of the most consistent players for the West Indies.

He also cited that he hasn’t picked Kane Williamson in his side as well while also admitting that it was tough leaving out Babar from his side. “Brother, please see Shai Hope’s runs in the last two years. And he’s also a keeper. Babar misses out…tough but then there’s no Williamson in my side either,” Aakash Chopra wrote in his tweet.

Brother, please see Shai Hope’s runs in the last two years. And he’s also a keeper. Babar misses out…tough but then there’s no Williamson in my side either. https://t.co/WFa1tQpYc5

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 2, 2020