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Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has suggested that star duo Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi should take a break from cricket to regain their form.
Azhar, who played 97 Tests and 53 ODIs for Pakistan, shared his views on both players during the ‘Sports Room’ Eid Special programme.
During the show, Azhar was asked a series of questions in rapid-fire round. When the host sought his advice for Babar and Shaheen, he suggested that both take time off from international cricket.
“Babar should take a six-month break from international cricket,” he said.
“He [Shaheen] should also take three months’ rest so that he gathers his fitness. I feel that if he takes two or three months break, he will be a great bowler,” he added.
The host then asked what suggestion you would give to [Director of the High Performance Center] Aqib Javed after a recent press conference. Azhar said that he should keep focusing on achieving his key objectives regarding academies.
‘He [Shaheen] should also take three months’ rest. I feel that if he takes rest, he would be a great bowler.
The 41-year-old was also asked to pick the better captain among Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Babar Azam.
”Babar [Azam],” he replied.
For the unversed, Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi have been in the spotlight due to their underwhelming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The leading run scorer in T20Is managed only 91 runs in six matches, averaging 22.75 with 46 his highest score.
As a result, he was not picked in the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh. However, Aqib Javed later revealed that the batter was not fit for the mega event.
Meanwhile, Shaheen took eight wickets in five matches at an economy rate of 10.52.
READ: WATCH: Pakistan cricketers share Eid-ul-Fitr greetings
