Babar Azam Vs Virat Kohli: This Legendary Pakistan Cricketer Shows Harsh Reality To Pak Players

Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has criticised Babar Azam and other players for prioritising personal achievements over team success. Babar's recent form, especially his leadership and batting, has been under scrutiny. He hasn't scored a half-century in his last 16 Test innings, drawing criticism from former players. Younis is the latest to voice his concerns about Babar and other top players.

"If Babar and other top players deliver on the field, then results will be clear to everyone. Humare players khelte kam, bolte zyada hai. (I have observed that our players tend to talk more than they perform)," Younis told Cricket Pakistan at an event.

Babar Azam's Leadership Under Fire

Younis urged Babar to take inspiration from Virat Kohli, who stepped down from captaincy to focus on his batting. "Look at Virat Kohli. He chose to step down from captaincy on his own terms, and now he's breaking records worldwide. This shows that playing for the country should be the priority. If there's any energy left, then play for yourself," Younis suggested.

Younis also advised Babar to concentrate on improving his cricketing skills. "The only suggestion I have for Babar is that he should focus on his cricket. He should up his performance. Babar Azam was made the captain because he was the best player at the time. I was there when the decision was made that the team's best player should be the captain," he added.

Coaches' Advice on Captaincy Changes

Pakistan's head coaches for white and red ball formats, Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie, have recommended against hasty changes in captaincy following recent poor performances across formats. After Pakistan's exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, Babar was removed as white ball captain and replaced by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was also dismissed after one bad series.

Similarly, in Tests, Shan Masood replaced Babar as captain but faced calls for removal after a 0-2 series defeat to Bangladesh. A PCB source told PTI that media speculations about Masood and Babar's sacking are unfounded. "There has been no discussion on changing the captains as the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has left it up to the two coaches and selectors to decide on the captaincy," he said.

Younis emphasised that players should focus more on their cricket rather than social media presence. "Your focus should be on cricket. You have to perform everywhere because there are very high expectations. Players should focus more on cricket and use social media wisely, but their real answers should come through their performances with the bat and ball," he stated.

He also highlighted the importance of fitness and work ethic for players like Babar Azam. "He (Babar) needs to focus on his fitness and work ethic because opportunities like these don't come around often," Younis added.

The ongoing debate about leadership within Pakistan's cricket team continues as stakeholders weigh performance against potential changes in captaincy roles.