Nasser Hussain has offered his insights on the cricketing prospects for Babar Azam, the former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, envisioning a promising 2024 for the talented player. In a video disseminated by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the former England captain shared his thoughts on Babar Azam’s decision to relinquish the captaincy.
Hussain articulated his belief that stepping away from the captain’s responsibilities could alleviate some of the burdens on Babar Azam, enabling him to channel his focus and energy more effectively into showcasing his batting prowess. In expressing this viewpoint, Hussain characterized the move as potentially liberating, suggesting that the weight of captaincy might have hindered Babar’s ability to fully unleash his batting skills.
“I think it is a massive year for him [Babar] and Pakistan. He has given up captaincy, that may be the weight off his shoulders,” remarked Nasser.
Highlighting the pivotal role that Babar Azam plays in the team, Hussain underscored the significance of Babar’s contribution in accumulating substantial runs for Pakistan. According to Hussain, Pakistan is relying on Babar to deliver exceptional performances, particularly with a T20 World Cup slated to take place in the Caribbean. Drawing attention to Pakistan’s previous T20 World Cup final appearance, Hussain emphasized the need for Babar, now an ex-skipper, to step up and deliver stellar performances.
The biggest thing he can do for Pakistan cricket is get a shed load of runs. They need him to get runs. There will be a T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. They got to the finals last time. They will need their ex-skipper to put in a real performance,” added Nasser.
In addition to discussing Babar Azam, Hussain extended his predictions to Virat Kohli, foreseeing a remarkable year for the Indian batting superstar. The former captain’s insights provide a comprehensive outlook on the expectations and potential trajectories of key players in the upcoming cricketing calendar.
