Asia Cup 2023: It didn’t make any sense – Sunil Gavaskar questions Babar Azam’s bowling changes

Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar questioned Pakistan skipper Babar Azam’s tactics against India in the Asia Cup clash at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele on Saturday. Despite having India gasping at 66-4, Azam didn’t put the final nail in the coffin as he gave a long spell to his spinners – Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz.

Khan was off the mark, consistently bowling full tosses to release the pressure that was created by Pakistan’s fast bowlers. Nawaz also could not pose any threat whereas Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya were also untroubled by Agha Salman, who bowled four overs.

Kishan and Pandya added 138 runs off just 142 balls and the alliance was finally broken by Haris Rauf when the former was dismissed after he decided to take on the opposition due to his injury.

Pakistan spin trio of Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Agha Salman collectively bowled 21 overs, conceding 133 runs and also went wicketless. All the 10 Indian wickets were taken by the Pakistan pace battery.

Gavaskar feels Babar Azam should have kept one fast bowler on from one end.

“I think the bowling changes didn’t make any sense because if you have three bowlers, the pace bowlers have taken the early wickets, you want to keep at least one ongoing from one end. I know that you can’t really go through long spells, but one person could have been bowling from one end and Shadab or Nawaz from the other end,” said Gavaskar on India Today.

The Little Master added India could have struggled to reach 175 or 200 if one of the pacers had removed either Ishan Kishan or Hardik Pandya.

“I think that is where Pakistan missed a trick and I mean India will be saying a big thank you because that’s what allowed the partnership to flourish because otherwise, if one of the pacers had taken just that one wicket between Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya, then maybe India would have struggled to reach even 175, 200,” Gavaskar added.

India posted 266 runs after electing to bat first but the match was called off due to rain. India will next face Nepal at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele on Monday.