Former Pakistan all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan has said that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan need to think seriously about their suitability for the demands of modern-day cricket.
Sharing his views, Rana Naved referred to his own time in the Big Bash League (BBL), where, he said, he learnt important lessons about elite cricket environments.
The former international cricketer said the BBL taught him that Australian players are very direct and believe only in ability. In a statement posted on social media, he said that his long association with the BBL allowed him to observe how the world’s major leagues operate.
He said that, unlike Pakistan’s team culture, Australian cricket places no weight on reputations or big names. Players, he said, feel no pressure from senior figures, and selection and respect rest purely on performance. When playing alongside international cricketers, he added, assessment comes through impact rather than reputation.
The former fast bowler said Steve Smith’s attitude offers a clear example of the standards applied among Australian players. Referring to a match between Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder, he said Smith refused to take a run on a shot played by Babar Azam, which showed that decisions are taken only on the match situation and the value of impact.
He added that, during the same match, Babar appeared unhappy at Smith’s refusal to run, and after his dismissal, he struck his bat marker near the boundary rope to show his displeasure.
