Babar Azam needs to learn how to finish games, says Wasim Akram

He is one of the most talented batsmen Pakistan have produced in recent times. With an average of above 51 in the ODIs and 54 in T20Is, Babar Azam is the most prolific scorer in the current Pakistan batting line-up. On Sunday, too, he scored a magnificent 80-ball 69 which though was eclipsed by Haris Sohail’s 59-ball 89, but its significance could not be underestimated. This was Azam’s second fifty of the tournament and both came in matches that Pakistan won.

However, despite his rich exploits with the bat, Babar still has come under the experts’ scanner. While former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has advised the 24-year-old batsman to learn from his idol Virat Kohli on how to tick the scorecard on, another former great Wasim Akram is concerned over Azam’s less-than-satisfactory capacity to finish off games.

“He [Babar] is a quick learner but the only thing that he needs to learn now is how to finish the game, if he is chasing or if he is batting first,” Akram was quoted by the ICC as saying. “He was well settled [against South Africa] on 69 and suddenly he played that shot because Haris Sohail at the other end was playing the aggressor so he didn’t have to play that shot; but again he is learning.”

Against India, Babar scored 48 to add a hundred-run partnership with Fakhar Zaman before a brilliant delivery from spinner Kuldeep Yadav rattled his timber and Pakistan lost it from there.

Azam added crucial 81 runs with Sohail in the match against SA in less 12 overs to push the team towards a respected total. Pakistan then restricted South Africa to 259 for 9 to win by 49 runs.

Akram also praised Haris Sohail

The 53-year-old Akram also praised Sohail for his knock that put the Proteas out of the World Cup. Sohail was playing just his second match of the tournament and Wasim praised him for his decisive innings. He said the 30-year-old needs to work on his fitness to improve his game.

After the match, a reporter also asked Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur about Sohail’s stamina but Arthur was upset with the question and accused the media of only Pakistan cricketers a negative coverage.