Babar Azam wouldn't make top three T20 sides: Michael Vaughan

Former England captain says Pakistan lack mentality, skill set of yesteryears to get over the line

Former England captain Michael Vaughan, considered one of the best batsmen England has ever produced, expressed his views on Pakistan's T20 squad during a television show, asserting that none of their players, except Shaheen Shah Afridi, would make it into the English, Australian, or Indian cricket teams.

Responding to a question about whether Pakistan's T20 players lack the skill set or if it’s a mentality issue, Vaughan stated, "I think they do have the skill set, but not what I've seen in the past from Pakistan cricket."

"In T20 cricket, I honestly don't think they've got many great T20 players. You know, I think Babar Azam's a brilliant batter but would he get into an England T20 team? No. An Australia T20 team? No. An India T20 team? No," Vaughan added.

The former English opener acknowledged Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Imad Wasim, and Mohammad Amir as good T20 players but questioned their inclusion in top teams. "How many of those players would get into a top team? There wouldn't be many," he said. "So I just think the skill sets aren't quite what Pakistan have had in the past."

 

 

 

 

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Commenting on the Pakistan vs India T20 World Cup encounter last Sunday, Vaughan maintained that mentally, Pakistan have no clue how to beat India.

"They [Pakistan] should have absolutely strolled that game but I think it means too much and I understand why it means too much because there's so much at stake," he said. "But every time India come up against Pakistan in a big, big game, I always watch it. Right at the start, there's only one winner because India know how to win and they have the mentality to get over the line, and for whatever reason, Pakistan just don't seem to have that kind of swagger."

Pakistan lost to India by six runs, failing to chase down 120 after bowling out India for 119 with one over remaining. The Pakistani batsmen struggled against the Indian pacers and ended up at 113-7 at the end of their innings.