When New Zealand's cricketer-turned-pundit Simon Doull launched a scathing attack on Pakistan captain Babar Azam, it turned into a controversy. After his blistering remarks on Babar, Doull was subjected to a ton of nuisance on social media as the stylish batter's fans came to his defense. The whole incident occurred during a Pakistan Super League (PSL) game when Babar played a 115-run knock. The former New Zealand cricketer Doull was not happy with Babar using up too many deliveries to get to his century. Doull hinted that Babar prioritised his personal milestone over the team's demand.
"Rather than putting the team first... the last little while, that's all that been happening. Rather than looking for boundaries, still so much firepower to come. Hundreds are brilliant, stats are great, but it has to be team first,” Doull said while commentating during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) match.
In the latest, Doull was involved in a heated exchange with former Pakistan cricketer Aamer Sohail after the former said that Babar should not open the innings for Pakistan in T20Is and bat at the No.3 position.
While on air during the second T20I between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Doull said, "Babar Azam is hands down the best No 3 batsman in the world. He should not open for Pakistan. Saim (Ayub) and (Mohammed) Haris should open with Rizwan in T20Is."
Sohail was not impressed by Doull's take and he responded by saying, "the T20 teams are selected on the basis of averages and not strike rates. The averages are more important than strike rates. I don't care about the strike rate, I look for the average. If you talk about the best players in T20I like Chris Gayle and AB De Villiers, what is the strike rate between 135 and 137?"
Doull replied by saying Gayle's strike rate is 158 and de Villiers' strike rate is 145 and quizzed Sohail about Babar's strike rate. The former Pakistan cricketer didn't reply to Doull's query.
