"You can't do this tuk-tuking all the time" - Kris Srikkanth questions Babar Azam’s skills in T20 cricket
Former India batter Krishnamachari Srikkanth reckons Pakistan skipper Babar Azam should not play T20 cricket. While questioning the batter's skills in the format, Srikkanth opined that his strike rate is just not good enough although he's the leading run-getter in T20Is.
Babar-led Pakistan crashed out of the 2024 T20 World Cup owing to losses against United States and India in the group stage. They went down to the US in the Super Over and lost to India by six runs in a low-scoring game.
Speaking about the skipper's performance, the batter scored 44 off 43 against USA, 13 off 10 against India and a run-a-ball 33 against Canada. The 29-year-old has come in for a lot of criticism over both his batting and leadership.
Mincing no words, former India opener Srikkanth said that Babar should quit playing T20 cricket in the wake of Pakistan's abysmal T20 World Cup returns.
"I don't think Babar should play T20 cricket. I mean you can't do this tuk-tuking all the time in T20 cricket. They say Babar scored 4,000 runs like Virat or Rohit, but his strike rate is only 112-115 what are you talking about?,” Srikkanth said on Star Sports, as quoted as saying by India Today.
Meanwhile, Pakistan are taking on Ireland in their last Group A match of the 2024 T20 World Cup at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Pakistan held Ireland to 106-9 in their 20 overs as Shaheen Afridi and Imad Wasim claimed three scalps each, while Mohammad Amir picked up two.
Babar Azam's record in T20I
Heading into the match against Ireland on Sunday, Babar had 4,113 runs in 115 innings at an average of 40.72 and a strike rate of 129.46, with three hundreds and 36 half-centuries.
Star Indian batter Virat Kohli is second on the list with 4,042 runs in 112 innings at an average of 49.90 and a strike rate of 137.90, with one hundred and 37 half-centuries.
Men in Blue skipper Rohit Sharma also has the same number of runs as Kohli in T20Is. The Indian opener has 4,042 runs from 146 innings at an average of 31.82 and a strike rate of 139.66, with five tons and 30 fifties.