Ahmed Shehzad comments on Babar Azam after witnessing Pakistan’s disheartening loss to six at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2024 against India, former Pakistani batter Ahmed Shehzad slammed team skipper Babar Azam.
The third team to be defeated in New York this time was Pakistan, which was playing with a not-very-high target of 120 before it was all out at 113/7. It was Pakistan’s second successive defeat in the tournament. This has put Pakistan on the verge of an early elimination from the competition after they suffered an upset by the USA in an early match they played.
Ahmed Shehzad’s Harsh Critique of Babar Azam
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Ahmed Shehzad, a T20 World Cup tournament winner for Pakistan back in 2009, was not kind to Babar Azam, as he openly criticized the captain and primary batsman. Ahmed Shehzad further alleged that Azam had been deceiving cricket lovers in Pakistan and was pursuing selfish interests, disregarding the wellbeing of the team.
He alleged, “You said you are the world’s best player, so tell me how 1400 runs come from the losing side? What sort of king or No. 1 batsman has a total 1400 runs but is No. 3 in the world, and always, his team loses when he scores”? He questioned Babar Azam for prioritizing overall rankings of personal achievement over match performance, saying,
“You have posted minor achievements on YouTube and other social networks so much that you have cheated the entire Pakistani public. ”
Fears of Team Selection and Building Up a Player
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Meanwhile, Ahmed Shehzad also underlined the issue of the team’s selection and the policies for young talent nurturing under Babar Azam’s leadership. He noted that young talents, including Saim Ayub and Azam Khan, have been shunned, disregarded, and instead left to defend themselves against criticism on social media platforms.
”You give young players who require polishing and then make them subjected to criticism on social media,” said Ahmed Shehzad, going down memory lane and mentioning particularities Saim Ayub and Azam Khan and accusing the management of having left Azam Khan alone. “Any player who plays two domestic matches reports an injury and then leaves the field, but when it comes to PSL and Pakistan cricket, they get fit again.”.
Emphasizing the need for evolution in Pakistani cricket, Ahmed Shehzad accused Babar Azam of being stubborn and not adapting to modern cricket standards.
“You stayed stubborn and didn’t improve with time. Because of this, where has the cricket of the world gone? And where has your cricket gone?” he concluded.
Slim Chances for Super 8 Qualification
Following these back-to-back losses, Pakistan’s chances of qualifying for the Super 8s are slim. Their upcoming matches against Canada on June 11 and Ireland on June 15 are crucial for their survival in the tournament. However, if India and the USA win even one of their remaining Group A matches, Pakistan will be eliminated despite any potential wins in their remaining fixtures.
The pressure is mounting on Babar Azam and his team to deliver strong performances in their upcoming matches to keep their T20 World Cup hopes alive.
Also Read: Breaking News: Jasprit Bumrah Becomes India’s Third-Highest Wicket-Taker in T20Is
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