Following Pakistan’s consecutive defeats in the 2023 World Cup, cricket experts are pointing fingers at Captain Babar Azam for the national team’s lackluster performance.
In the most recent disappointing loss to Afghanistan on Monday, Pakistan faced an eight-wicket defeat as Afghanistan showcased excellent batting and bowling skills.
Former captain Wasim Akram, while discussing the team’s performance on a local sports channel, expressed his belief that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, selectors, coaches, and the captain all share responsibility for the team’s underwhelming performance in the tournament.
Akram raised questions about the decision to allocate bowling overs to certain players, highlighting the need for accountability. He asked, “At the 45-over mark, we had two overs of Shaheen and Haris each and one over of Hasan Ali, but we gave the ball to Usama Mir, why? Who will answer these questions?” He also voiced concerns about the fitness of the players in the Pakistan team.
The former captain emphasized the significance of the defeat and criticized the team’s fitness levels and fielding, suggesting that some players have not undergone fitness tests for the past two years. He also mentioned the need for individual fitness assessments.
Shoaib Malik, a former right-handed batter, placed the primary blame for the defeat on Captain Babar Azam. Malik acknowledged Babar’s effectiveness as a batsman but expressed dissatisfaction with his performance as a leader, indicating that Babar’s leadership skills fell short of expectations.
