Younis Khan Criticizes Babar Azam, Cites Virat Kohli as an Example

Pakistan‘s captain for One Day Internationals (ODI) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20I), Babar Azam, is currently facing significant scrutiny due to his prolonged lack of performance in Test cricket. Over his last 16 Test innings, Babar has not managed to secure a half-century, with his highest score being 41 against Australia in December 2023, at Melbourne.

Amid this challenging period, former Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan has openly criticized Babar, advising him to concentrate more on his batting skills rather than being disturbed by issues related to captaincy. Speaking at a media event, Younis emphasized Babar’s potential but suggested that he should look beyond his leadership responsibilities to enhance his batting performances for Pakistan.

“There are great opportunities for Babar Azam. He has achieved a lot at a very young age,” stated Younis. “He needs to think about what he wants to do next. Captaincy should be secondary; his primary focus should be on performing for Pakistan. Babar Azam possesses significant potential, and while I have scored only 10,000 runs, he has the capability to surpass 15,000,” Younis added.

Younis Khan, who holds the record for the most Test runs by a Pakistani cricketer, having scored 10,099 runs in 118 matches between 2007 and 2017, also highlighted the inspiring example of former Indian captain Virat Kohli. Kohli, known for relinquishing his captaincy on his own terms, has continued to break records globally with spectacular performances.

“Virat Kohli is an impressive example to follow. He stepped down from captaincy willingly and has since been showcasing remarkable performances. This demonstrates how prioritizing the team’s needs can lead to personal successes as well,” expressed Younis. “If Babar can emulate such focus and work ethic, he too can resultantly break several records.”

Continuing with his statements, Younis remarked, “Players should focus on performing on the field, which clears expectations for everyone. Babar was chosen as captain because he was deemed the team’s best performer at the time.”

The former captain also advised Babar to focus on fitness and work ethic, stressing that such opportunities in international cricket come rarely. Younis’ critique comes during a period of disappointing performances by the Pakistani cricket team, having recently lost to Bangladesh at home, marking their first defeat to this opponent in the longest format.