Reappointing Babar Azam as skipper worst decision: Ahmed Shehzad after PAK’s T20 WC exit
Veteran cricketer Ahmed Shehzad said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi made the worst decision by bringing back Babar Azam as the skipper of the national men’s team.
After Pakistan’s disastrous campaign in the ODI World Cup last year on Indian soil, Babar stepped down as skipper across all three formats. But earlier this year, Pakistan brought him back as the white-ball captain after replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The decision backfired big time as the Men in Green failed to make their way through to the Super 8 of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the Caribbean and the United States. Pakistan found themselves in all sorts of strife after losing to the USA and India. Although they beat Canada, their hopes of playing in the next round crashed.
“Making Babar Azam was the worst decision by the PCB chairman because he was a tried and tested captain. Wahab Riaz has handled things very unprofessionally,” Shehzad told Geo News.
On Friday, June 14, Pakistan made an exit from the mega event after the Group A match between the USA and Ireland was abandoned at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida. Along with Pakistan, Canada and Ireland also fell short of advancing to the second round.
‘Personal milestones destroyed Pakistan cricket’
Shehzad said that Babar, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman and Haris Rauf have been given more chances than they deserve. He was also critical of Babar and Rizwan for playing for ‘personal milestones’ against Canada rather than focussing on improving Pakistan’s net run rate.
“If you look into their cricket for the last four years, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi and Fakhar Zaman have been constants. Haris Rauf is also there. They have got more time than what a lot should get. And there are groupings in the team and lack of leadership is visible,” Shehzad said.
They say that we are learning from our mistakes; what are you learning? Against Canada, you had to improve your net run rate and Rizwan scored the slowest fifty. Babar Azam scored 33 at a run-a-ball. There were no demons on the pitch. Personal milestones have destroyed our cricket and the condition of our cricket is because of them. You don’t have leadership, the only thing you have is social media generate king. You have won nothing in the last five years; you don’t have fitness; you are playing politics; your cricket is on the decline. You have only stuck to friendships,” Shehzad added.
Pakistan’s last and final Group match is against Paul Stirling’s Ireland on Sunday, June 16 in Florida. They are currently placed third in the table with 2 points and a net run rate of +0.191 thanks to wins in 1 out of 3 matches.