After losing to England in the first Test match in Multan, Pakistan will make major changes for the second encounter. Humiliation is a powerful term in sports. However, many people have viewed Pakistan’s defeat to England as shameful. As a result, the PCB selection committee decided to drop Babar Azam in Lahore within hours of the defeat.
Pakistan was the only team in Test cricket history to lose by an innings despite scoring over 500 in the first innings. On Saturday, the committee convened again, this time with chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Although captain Shan Masood has backed Azam, the selectors believe he should take some time away from the national team. Azam has not scored a half-century in a test since December 2022.
Effect of Azam’s Absence on Pakistan Team
Being removed from the national team, especially if the player has been a pillar of the batting order, may be upsetting for Pakistan. This might lead to self-doubt and questions about his place on the squad, undermining his confidence even more. If we look at the bright side, Azam could get some much-needed downtime from the decision. Because he had been under great mental, emotional, and physical stress for the last two years. He might be able to recuperate from this vacation and return to the game with fresh energy and a different viewpoint.
Azam‘s international career is now at one of its lowest points. In 18 innings, the top Test batsman has failed to score fifty runs or more. He averaged 69.64 in 2022, with four Test centuries and seven fifties. Pakistan’s expulsion committee consists of Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Aleem Dar, and the format’s captain and head coach, Hasan Cheema. However, it has been stated that neither the captain nor the head coach participated in the conversations.
PCB’s Surprise Squad Decisions
Abrar Ahmad, who is now in the hospital, is also expected not to be included in the playing eleven. The committee is debating a few spinners, with Noman Ali and Sajid Khan at the top of the list. Meanwhile, due to fitness difficulties, Shaheen Shah Afridi may not play the second Test. On Sunday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) struck a bombshell by excluding fast bowling talents Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah from the last two Tests against England.
Sarfaraz Ahmad is released from the test series against England. Ahmad last played a Test match in December 2023 and has only participated in two competitive fixtures since April. Before releasing the second Test team, reports suggest that the selection committee met with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and five mentors hired earlier this year for the Champions Cup on a three-year contract. One of the mentors is Sarfaraz Ahmed.
Parting Thoughts
Babar Azam struggled against England, scoring just 35 runs in two innings. Since the beginning of 2023, he has averaged under 21 in nine Tests. He resigned as captain of all forms in 2023 after Pakistan was eliminated from the ODI World Cup. But four months later, he was appointed as T20I and ODI captain. The second spell was unsuccessful, and he resigned as captain again.
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