Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif talked about the hitting ability of the Pakistani skipper Babar Azam after the 29-year-old got out against Bangladesh after scoring nine runs in the 31st match of the ICC World Cup 2023 in Kolkata.
Kaif said that he would not judge Babar based on his performance against Bangladesh as he had to go out and play a big shot to chase the target in 30 overs.
"I will not judge him based on this knock because he ran after the run rate. He had to finish the game early. So that big shot came. But overall his form is not good. He is scoring fifties and sixties but the hundred hasn't come," Kaif said while talking on Star Sports.
The former Indian batter then went on to talk about Babar's ability to accelerate the innings saying that the Pakistani doesn't have the ability of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to change the gear of the innings.
"The dismissal shows that when he changes gears, it is not his game. When he tries to hit balls out of the boundary, he gets caught on the line. It is not his strength, he is a touch player. If you ask him to score runs at a fast pace after 60 balls, he probably does not have the ability that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have," added.
Earlier, Fakhar Zaman made his comeback after five matches and made sure that he makes the most of it as the left-handed batter scored 81 runs off 74 deliveries with three fours and seven sixes — with one of them being a 99-metre maximum.
Abdullah Shafique also scored 68 runs as he combined forces with Zaman to build a 128-run opening partnership that put the Green Shirts in a dominating position.
Mohammad Rizwan (26*) and Iftikhar Ahmed (17*) finished the game for the Green Shirts, who remained alive in their race to the semi-final of the World Cup.
Batting first, Bangladesh met with Shaheen Afridi's first-over magic as Tanzid Hasan was removed for a duck in the first over by the left-handed pacer.
However, Littos Das and Mahmudullah formed a 79-run partnership, helping their side to post crucial runs against the deadly pace attack of Pakistan.
However, Das lost his wicket to Iftikhar Ahmed as he was getting closer to his fifty. Mahmudullah followed his counterpart soon enough as he was bowled out by Afridi for 56 runs, the wickets continued to fall for the Tigers and were soon all-out for 204 runs.
- Babar Azam