No batsmen can take responsibility like Babar: Shoaib Akhtar

• Shoaib Akhtar says I feel disappointed for Pakistan and especially for Babar who played superb in both T20s.
• Akhtar says there is no batsmen who can take the command like Babar.

ISLAMABAD: Disappointed on Pakistan team losing the second Twenty20 to Australia by seven wickets at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Tuesday, former speedster Shoaib Akhtar said there was no batsmen who could take the responsibility like skipper Babar Azam.

“I feel disappointed for Pakistan and especially for Babar who played superb in both T20s. There is no batsmen who can take the command like Babar,” Shoaib said on his YouTube Channel.

Babar hit a 50 on 38 balls in the second T20 while the Lahore-born youngster was 59 not out in the first T20 which was washed out by the rain. “I am saddened that Babar’s efforts went in vain,” he said.

Shoaib, who was referred as Rawalpindi Express, said the wicket was hard surfaced but had even bounce. “The ball was coming up good but Pakistani openers failed to capitalize,” he said and added Pakistani batsmen did not show any sense of maturity.

He said Pakistan could have easily scored a 200 or close to runs on this particular wicket. “Our batsmen Haris Sohail, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan lack the maturity of that of Australian batsman Steve Smith,” he said and added that Rizwan played well in the first T20 but looked like in a hurry in the second game.

Shoaib said Mohammad Amir bowled well but Muhammad Irfan was struggling because of his left leg. “The management should have thought of Irfan before picking him in the team,” he said.

He said Smith was very effective in the second T20. Smith stroked a faultless unbeaten 80 as Australia edged Pakistan by seven wickets to go 1-0 up in the three-match T20 series. “After comeback Smith has been scoring tons of runs and has proven that he is a T20 player,” he said.