Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Rashid Latif has lashed out at current captain Babar Azam for the inability to change his batting approach in T20Is as well. He applauded Indian legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for evolving with time and changing to a more attacking style as well. Notably, Babar is the third leading scorer in T20Is with 4,145 runs at an average of 41.03 in 123 games as well. However, his strike rate remains under 130 compared to Rohit and Kohli, at 140.89 and 137.04, respectively as well.

Latif said on a YouTube channel as quoted by Times Now: “If Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli can change their approach in T20Is, then why can’t Babar Azam? I would like to cite Rohit Sharma’s example. You saw how he evolved his game in the 50-over format. He has made himself a role model. In this year’s IPL, he had close to 140 strike rate. If he can change his game, everyone can. He did not do this overnight, he had to work on his game. India showed they can do this. This is not a problem of the player but a problem of the ones who make them play. I would give Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan five matches to change their batting approach in T20Is and if they won’t, then there should be no place in the team for them.”

However, Rashid Latif further slammed Babar Azam for his abysmal captaincy in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. He quit captaincy after the 2023 ODI World Cup but was reinstated in the white-ball formats ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup as well.

“Babar Azam shouldn’t have been removed as captain after the ODI World Cup in India. Shaheen came in to replace him. But Babar’s second tenure as captain was weak. Babar looked weak. This is not the way team selection should be done. Babar didn’t fight ( in the T20 World Cup). His biggest mistake was accepting the captaincy again. If he continues as captain, it will be an even bigger mistake,” Rashid Latif was quoted as saying by TOI.