'Don't take up captaincy. Reach Virat's level first'- Former Pakistan cricketer reveals advice to Babar Azam following poor Asia Cup performance

Pakistan faced a heart-breaking defeat in the Asia Cup Final despite coming up with good performances throughout the tournament. Babar Azam who started the Asia Cup campaign as a number one batter dropped down as the tournament progressed. In six innings the Pakistan captain was able to score just 68 runs with a highest of 30.

His poor batting performance has invited a lot of criticism with Pakistan legends like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Moin Khan, Salman Butt and others have already criticised the batter with Kamran Akmal now joining the long list of critics.

On his YouTube channel the former wicketkeeper batter said, "During a T20I in Faisalabad when Babar was walking out for the toss, I got to know that he is being made captain. That is when I told him... 'I don't think now is the right time for you to become captain. Give your best performances in the next 2-3 years. The batting line-up is depended on you. Reach Virat Kohli's level first, Steve Smith's level. By then, you would have scored 35-40 centuries and enjoy captaincy. The moment Sarfaraz leaves, you will be next in line. But now is the right time. I told him back in the day but it was his decision. Those who were close to him must have spoken to him and advised him to take up the captaincy.”

"I had also told him to only concentrate on his batting. He was scoring runs and would have continued to do so. The flow was beautiful. People enjoyed watching him bat. With captaincy, there will be pressure, which will affect his batting, his approach. And somewhere, that is visible now. But at the same time removing him as captain right now would be a big blunder on the part of the team management. Pakistan cricket will go back," added Akmal.

"But now he has matured. It's been 2-3 years since he has been captaining, but it still should have been better. The way he captained in the final of the Asia Cup final, he has done better than that in the past. He has utilised his bowlers - like Nawaz - really well. But when you don't have form, you can make a few changes at the top. Perhaps push Rizwan down to 3, bat there yourself. Make Fakhar open, maybe he can come back to form. So there are the decisions a captain should take."

Babar Azam has been named as the captain for the Pakistan team for the upcoming 20-20 World Cup.