Babar Azam Faces Criticism Over Match Finishing Skills

Babar Azam's Frustration with Comparisons to Virat Kohli

During a recent press conference, Babar Azam expressed his irritation after a journalist questioned his ability to finish matches, drawing a comparison to Virat Kohli. In a match against the Hyderabad Kingsmen in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Babar scored a respectable 43 runs, helping Peshawar Zalmi in their chase of 146 runs. However, his inability to close out the game led to the pointed question from the reporter. Once hailed as a potential rival to Kohli, Babar's form has dipped significantly, resulting in his exclusion from the national team. The journalist remarked, "Virat Kohli has a similar style but manages to finish games, unlike you. What do you think about this comparison?" Babar, visibly upset, replied, "Please keep such comparisons to yourself. It's a misconception that I haven't finished matches."

Is Babar Azam's Career at a Crossroads?

Babar was part of the Pakistan squad for the T20 World Cup, but his performance was disappointing, contributing to the team's early exit. Following this, he was omitted from the ODI series against Bangladesh. With his T20 career seemingly in jeopardy after the World Cup, and his exclusion from the ODI lineup, it appears the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may be moving on, especially with the rise of new talents like Sameer Minhas, Maaz Sadaqat, and Shamyl Hussain, who have excelled in U19 and A cricket. Test cricket remains the only format where Babar is likely to play, but with a challenging tour to England approaching in August-September, his performance there could determine his future in international cricket.