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Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar expressed his disagreement with Babar Azam's captaincy as well his preference to rely heavily on spinners in the Asia Cup 2023. Akhtar's remarks came in response to India's comeback in the group stage clash between India and Pakistan in the ongoing continental tournament. Even though Pakistan managed to bundle out India at 266, Akhtar said that the figures could have been better had Azam not bowled in the middle overs with his spin trio.
Akhtar said that the Pakistan skipper needs to adopt a more aggressive mindset while he leads the side on the field. The ex-Pakistan great was in talks with Star Sports where he said that Azam shouldn't have given so many overs to the spinners.
Fondly called 'Rawalpindi Express', Akhtar said, “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."
The 48-year-old added, “He is a much 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."
After their group-stage match got washed out in second innings, the neighbouring nations and arch-rivals will now lock horns in the Super Fours on September 10 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Not only this, but the Rohit Sharma-led squad and Babar Azam's sides can also lock horns in the finale of the ACC event on September 17, Sunday.