Younis Khan advises Babar Azam to follow Virat Kohli's path
What's the story
Former cricketer Younis Khan has urged Babar Azam, Pakistan's white-ball captain, to take a cue from Indian cricketer Virat Kohli.
This advice comes amid criticism of Azam's recent performance in various formats.
During the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup and 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, Azam failed to deliver significant contributions, leading to Pakistan's early exit from both tournaments.
Captaincy advice
Khan suggests Azam to consider Kohli's approach
Khan suggested that Azam should consider relinquishing his captaincy, similar to Kohli's decision.
He emphasized that performance is more important than leadership roles.
"Look at Virat Kohli. He chose to step down from captaincy on his own terms, and now he's breaking records worldwide," Khan stated during a press event in Pakistan.
Performance woes
Khan highlights Azam's recent struggles in cricket
Azam's struggles extended to Pakistan's recent Test series against Bangladesh, where he managed only 64 runs across four innings.
This led to his exclusion from the top 10 of ICC Test Rankings for batters, a position he had held for several years.
Khan attributed Azam's poor form to the immense pressure of expectations and advised him to prioritize his fitness and work ethic.
Focus shift
Khan emphasizes on-field performance over off-field talk
Khan also expressed concern about Azam's Test form, noting his inability to record a half-century in his last 16 innings.
He stressed the importance of delivering results on the field rather than engaging in off-field discussions.
"I have observed that our players tend to talk more than they perform," Khan said, highlighting the need for top players like Azam to step up their game.