Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir criticised Pakistani skipper Babar Azam saying that records and rankings are overrated after the latter scored 50 runs against South Africa in the 26th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, India, on Friday.
Talking to Star Sports, India’s hero of the 2011 World Cup, Gambhir criticised Babar’s performances in the ongoing mega event saying that the 29-year-old didn’t play any impactful innings in the tournament.
"Babar Azam hasn't played any impactful inning. Records and rankings are overrated. The real No.1 is the one who wins matches,” said Gambhir.
The former Indian great then went on to talk about the fitness of Green Shirts saying that there is a “great difference” between them and the other nine teams in the World Cup.
"First thing that Pakistan needs to work after the World Cup is their fitness — there is a huge difference between Pakistan and other nine teams in the fielding," he added.
It is worth mentioning that Babar is under serious scrutiny following his performances as the 29-year-old has scored 207 runs with an average of 34.50 and a strike rate of 79.00 in six World Cup matches. In an interesting stat, Babar has scored three fifties, all while batting first and his innings has the lowest strike rate among the batters with 50+ scores.
A day earlier, South Africa defeated Pakistan by one wicket after a nail-biter and recorded their fifth win in the tournament, going to the top of the World Cup points table with 10 points and a handsome net run rate (NRR) of 2.032.
That was Pakistan’s fourth consecutive defeat in this mega event — the first time they lost four matches in a single edition of the World Cup.
Pakistan’s chances to qualify for the semi-final of the event have now become a matter of “ifs and buts” because even if the Green Shirts win their remaining three matches — against Bangladesh, New Zealand and England — they would have to rely on other teams' results, which seems nearly impossible.
Pakistan’s remaining ICC World Cup 2023 matches
October 31 - vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
November 4 - vs New Zealand Bengaluru (Day match)
November 11 - vs England in Kolkata
- Babar Azam