Aaqib Javed wants Babar Azam to be Pakistan's rescuer in the middle-order

Babar Azam got out for a duck in the match [Source: AP]

On Sunday, Pakistan suffered a gut-wrenching four-wicket defeat in their World Cup opener against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Riding on two fantastic half-centuries from Iftikhar Ahmed and Shan Masood, the Men in Green posted 159, which India chased in exact twenty overs, courtesy of a glorious 53-ball 82* from Virat Kohli. 

Although Iftikhar starred with the bat, the other middle-order batters, Haider Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and Asif Ali, failed to record two-digit figures. Their miserable performance sucked all the momentum that Iftikhar had given to the Pakistani innings, eventually resulting in their sub-par total. 

After Pakistan's dramatic loss in the game, former fast bowler Aaqib Javed came up with a solution to their middle-order woes. As the 50-year-old put it, Babar, being the captain and best batter of the side, should demote himself and act as a glue to keep the middle-order intact. 

Here's what Javed said

“A performing captain like Babar Azam should bat where Pakistan is currently facing a crisis and that is [the] middle order."

Pakistan's middle-order has been their biggest concern recently in T20Is, as they have been over-reliant on the opening duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Although Iftikhar's fifty is an encouraging sign, the Pakistani think tank would like the other batters to step up when they meet Zimbabwe in their second game in Perth on Thursday. 

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