Ex-cricketers slam Babar, Pakistan team

In the aftermath of Pakistan’s recent T20 World Cup loss to India in New York, former cricketer Basit Ali did not hold back his emotions and criticized the current state of the Pakistan cricket team and its administration.

In a recent interview with a local media channel, Basit Ali expressed his frustration with the Men in Green following a string of defeats against co-hosts USA and Rohit Sharma-led India.

“In Pakistan, it is a crime to speak the truth. Ziyadti karte hai ye log (They are highly unfair). I selected the likes of Shaheen, Shadab, and Babar during the U19 days. Look how they have been treated and what has happened to the Pakistan team,” Basit said.

The former cricketer did not hesitate to accuse the current selection committee of favoritism, specifically referring to Babar Azam, the national team captain.

“He [Babar Azam] has been consistently selecting players who are close to him, and that has ruined Pakistan’s chances,” he said.

Ali also touched on the controversial administrative decisions that he believes have demoralized the team, particularly Shaheen Afridi’s appointment and subsequent removal as captain just before the T20 World Cup 2024.

“They broke the tempo, and now we are not on the same page. First, they should be removed, and then new faces should be included in the team,” he concluded.

Pakistan will aim for their first two points when they face Canada on Tuesday in New York. Group A’s next match is set for Tuesday, June 11, between Pakistan and Canada in New York.

‘No intent’

Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar has expressed disappointment after Pakistan’s narrow defeat to India in their T20 World Cup 2024 encounter on Sunday at the Nassau County International Stadium.

In his latest YouTube video, Akhtar criticized Babar Azam’s team’s performance and intent, asserting that the game was within their grasp if only the players had “applied their brains.”

“Very disappointing. It was a run-a-ball chance for Pakistan. Earlier, India’s middle order messed it up. They were 80-odd in 11 overs and could have achieved around 160 but couldn’t. But for Pakistan, it was a close chance. Rizwan could have scored another 20 runs and won the game for the team. Sadly, we didn’t apply our brains,” Akhtar said.

He further lamented the Pakistani side’s lack of strategic execution. “A lot of things are questionable, their intent, the application… it’s really sad for the team. Pakistan should have won this game. They were pretty much in the game, requiring 46 runs in 47 balls when Fakhar was there. We had 7 wickets in hand but we couldn’t do it. I’m speechless and hurt, that’s about it,” he said.

Lack of awareness

Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis criticized Pakistan’s batters, especially Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman, for their lack of game awareness after their six-run defeat against India at the T20 World Cup in New York.

Akram, a former Pakistan captain, was particularly upset about the team’s failure to chase a modest target of 120, leading to their second consecutive loss.

He stressed the need for a team overhaul, accusing Rizwan of poor judgment for attempting a big shot against Bumrah, resulting in a crucial dismissal.

“They have been playing cricket for 10 years, and I can’t teach them. Rizwan has no game awareness. He should have known that Bumrah was given the ball to take wickets and that the wise thing would have been to play his deliveries cautiously. But Rizwan went for a big shot and lost his wicket,” Akram said on Star Sports.

Waqar Younis shared similar sentiments, highlighting Rizwan’s costly mistake.

“The game was in the hand, it was run-a-ball. That shot from Mohammad Rizwan was very ordinary, and when he played that shot and got out, I knew something special was going to happen because we know Bumrah and Siraj’s capabilities,” he said.

Akram also criticized Iftikhar Ahmed and Fakhar Zaman, suggesting that the players’ complacency stems from believing that poor performance only affects the coaches, not themselves.

“Iftikhar Ahmed knows one shot on the leg side. He has been a part of the team for years but doesn’t know how to bat. I can’t go and tell about the game awareness to Fakhar Zaman. Pakistani players think that if they don’t perform well, the coaches will be sacked, and nothing will happen to them. It is time to keep the coaches and change the entire team,” he said.