Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali believes that Babar Azam's batting form will improve if Mohammad Rizwan is appointed as the Test captain. Ali also expresses confidence that Pakistan can overcome England in the upcoming Test series next month under Rizwan's leadership.
Basit Ali Advocates for Rizwan as Pakistan's Test Captain
Currently, Shan Masood captains Pakistan's Test team, but his tenure has been marked by a series of defeats. The team has suffered five consecutive losses, including a recent 0-2 series defeat to Bangladesh at home. Masood has faced significant pressure and criticism due to Pakistan's poor performance. The upcoming three-match Test series against England holds immense importance for Pakistan. A successful campaign is crucial for their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, as their current position in the standings is precarious.
Basit Ali Calls for Rizwan as Pakistan's Test Captain
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has advocated for Mohammad Rizwan to be appointed as the country's new Test captain, suggesting that Rizwan's leadership could be the catalyst for Babar Azam's return to form. In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Ali urged for Shan Masood to be replaced as captain ahead of the upcoming Test series against England. Ali expressed his belief that under Rizwan's captaincy, both Azam's batting and Pakistan's overall performance would see a significant improvement.
"Pakistan will win the Test series against England if Mohammad Rizwan is made the captain. You will see a different Babar Azam in the England series, but the condition is that the captain should be Rizwan," Basit said.
Masood's Struggles and Rizwan's Excellence
Shan Masood's batting contributions during the series against Bangladesh were modest, totaling 105 runs in four innings with an average of 26.25. Despite his efforts to play aggressively, Masood failed to convert his starts into substantial scores, reflecting Pakistan's overall batting struggles throughout the series.
In contrast, Mohammad Rizwan emerged as the standout performer for Pakistan. The wicketkeeper-batter amassed 294 runs in four innings, averaging an impressive 98 with one half-century and one century. Rizwan's exceptional batting and keeping skills were instrumental in his team's performance and earned him significant praise, including recognition from Basit Ali as a potential candidate for the Test captaincy.
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