Kamran Akmal advises Azam to take lesson from Smith’s book

• Akmal counselled Azam to follow the example of Graeme Smith.
• Misbah-ul-Haq had claimed that Azam had been targeted amid rumours.
• Smith was the first skipper to captain in more than 100 Test matches.

Kamran Akmal, the wicketkeeper-batsman for Pakistan, has counselled captain Babar Azam to follow the example of former South Africa captain Graeme Smith.

Smith was the first skipper to captain in more than 100 Test matches and was given the captaincy at the age of 22. The Proteas rose to prominence as a cricketing powerhouse under his direction.

“Babar Azam is a brilliant batter but there are still question marks regarding his captaincy. As captain, he should be more confident while also working on his body language. “He’s been captain for three years, and now it’s time to deliver,” Akmal remarked to the media on Sunday in Lahore.

“It is a World Cup year which is why he should be more active as captain. Graeme Smith was also a young captain when he was appointed. “I believe Babar should take a page from Smith’s book,” he continued.

Former Pakistan cricketer Misbah-ul-Haq previously claimed that Azam had been targeted amid rumours of a probable change in national team captaincy.

Misbah, who has previously held the positions of top selector and head coach for Pakistan, was dismayed by the rumours surrounding Azam’s captaincy.

“The manner in which Babar Azam has been targeted is unacceptable. Changes should be made only after a comprehensive assessment of the situation, regardless of who is the captain. Decisions should not be made solely to exert pressure on others,” Misbah told reporters in Lahore on Sunday.

Azam is presently preparing for the eighth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he will captain his new team Peshawar Zalmi, which kicks off on February 13 in Multan.

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