Pakistan’s fast bowler Mohammad Amir questioned Babaz Azam’s captaincy against India in the high-octane clash, which the Men in Green lost by four wickets. Amir believes Azam should have bowled two overs from Shaheen Shah Afridi in the middle overs and it could have made all the difference if the pacer had dismissed either Virat Kohli or Hardik Pandya.
Afridi wasn’t at his best as he conceded 34 runs in his quota of four overs and many cricket experts, including former Pakistan captain Salman Butt felt the lanky pacer wasn’t 100% fit.
Amir feels it wasn’t a guile decision from Babar Azam to bowl Afridi at the fag end of the innings. The lanky paceman conceded 17 runs in the 18th over he bowled and it shifted the momentum towards India.
Mohammad Amir said while talking to ICA Sports, “You have to assess the situation from all four corners when you are the captain. When you found out that Shaheen was not in the rhythm to bowl his first two overs. You should have understood that he isn’t fit to bowl in the death overs. Could have bowled Shaheen’s two overs in the middle as he could have picked wickets.”
On the other hand, Mohammad Nawaz was given the final over by Babar Azam when 16 runs were needed. The left-arm orthodox spinner went on to concede 42 runs in his quota of four overs.
“The way they (Indian batters) smashed sixes against Nawaz, they wouldn’t have hit them against Shaheen. Had Shaheen bowled there (11th over), all you wanted was one wicket. If either Pandya or Kohli got out at that point, then you had the chance to win the game.”
Amir feels Haris Rauf should have bowled the 18th over instead of Shaheen Shah Afridi and reckons it was the turning point of the game. Rauf was also taken for 15 runs in the penultimate over he bowled as Virat Kohli smashed for two sixes on the last two balls of the over.
“The turning point of the game was India needing 48 runs in three overs to win. While the equation was at 60 in the last five overs, Haris conceded just 4-5 runs and then Naseem gave seven runs. To score 48 runs in three overs is not an easy job for any batter.”
Mohammad Amir continued: “As a captain, you should have thought about who your stop bowler is in such a situation. If Haris would have bowled at that point, with the kind of rhythm he was bowling, Pakistan would have won the match 99 percent. Haris might have picked up the wicket of either Pandya or Kohli in the 18th over.”
India will take on the Netherlands at the SCG on Thursday.
