Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has launched a scathing attack on star batsman Babar Azam, accusing him, along with other prominent players of the national cricket team, of being more interested in their earnings than the success of the team.
The legendary batsman’s comments came in the wake of Babar’s alarming fall with the bat, in which the Pakistan white-ball captain failed to even score a half-century in his last 16 Test innings. His poor figures across formats sparked discontent among former cricketers.
Younis Khan criticises Babar Azam for prioritising personal gain over team success
Expressing his frustration over the lack of on-field performance by Pakistan’s top players, Younis said: “You can’t have too many players talking more than they say.” He raised a broader question about the players’ priorities and focus on the team.
The former Pakistan captain went on to highlight the vast difference between Babar’s approach and that of Indian batting legend Virat Kohli, with whom many draw comparisons of the latter.
He mentioned how Kohli gave up his captaincy to focus more on his batting and contribute more to the cause of the Indian cricket team, while calling Babar selfish.
Younis Khan told the Times of India: “If Babar and other top players perform on the field, the results will be evident for all to see. Humble players are very brave. I have observed that our players tend to talk more than they act.”
Younis Khan asks Babar Azam to follow Virat Kohli’s path
The Pakistan legend suggested that Babar should follow in Kohli’s footsteps as the former Indian captain delivered a series of record-breaking performances after a long struggle after giving up the captaincy, and national duty should come before individual glory.
Younis Khan believes the Pakistan captain is struggling due to misplaced priorities and a lack of focus on the basic fundamentals of the game.
He asked Babar to work hard and choose his priorities as he stated that being a captain and performing at the top is not easy to achieve as it requires much more commitment, focus, hard work and determination.
Younis Khan concluded by saying, “Look at Virat Kohli. He chose to give up captaincy on his own terms, and now he is breaking records around the world. This shows that playing for the country should be the priority. If there is still energy left, then play for yourself.”
As Babar continues to receive more and more criticism, it will be interesting to see how he redeems himself and lets his performances reflect in the results. He is currently playing in the Champions One-Day Cup to regain form ahead of the crucial Test series against England at home.
On the other hand, Kohli is gearing up for the opening Test of the two-match Test series against Bangladesh in Chennai, which begins on September 19. Kohli will undoubtedly once again look to let his bat do the talking about his form in the upcoming home series against the Tigers.