Moin urges Babar to stay strong

The former captain says this is the only way for him to counter growing criticism

KARACHI:

Former Pakistan captain Moin Khan has advised Babar Azam to develop greater mental resilience as mounting pressure continues to surround the star cricketer.

In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Moin acknowledged Babar's exceptional talent but emphasized that his leadership has yet to yield a major tournament victory, a factor that could be adding to his struggles on the field.

"No doubt, Babar Azam is an extraordinary cricketer, but under his leadership, Pakistan has not won any major events, and that must add extra pressure on him," Moin said.

Speaking about Pakistan's underwhelming performance in the recent World Cup, Moin expressed his disappointment, stating that Pakistan's early exit was a result of substandard performances.

"In the World Cup, Pakistan's performance was so subpar that we were knocked out in the first round. Even a team like the USA, playing its first World Cup, defeated us. We couldn't chase a modest target against India," he further added.

Moin stressed the significance of mental strength in such situations, particularly when facing long-standing rivals like India.

"There's always added pressure in a match against our arch-rivals, and after losing, you need to make a strong comeback. Unfortunately, it didn't seem like Babar delivered an extraordinary performance to silence the critics," Moin said.

The former captain pointed out that the only way for Babar to counter the growing criticism is through his performance on the field.

"The ground is the only place where you can show your worth by playing well. Babar needs to become mentally strong and take the criticism positively; otherwise, he'll keep sinking into problems and won't be able to perform," he concluded.

Moreover, he has expressed his views on the looming issue of India's potential refusal to participate in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which is set to be hosted in Pakistan.

In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Moin has called on Indian cricket legends to persuade the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to ensure their team's participation, emphasizing the broader implications for the sport if India were to withdraw.

He firmly believes that cricket should remain a domain separate from political disputes.

"In my view, Indian cricket legends should advise the BCCI to keep sports separate from politics. Fans worldwide want India and Pakistan to play, benefiting not just Pakistan but the sport as a whole. India must honor ICC commitments, and if they don't, Pakistan should also consider taking a stand by not participating in future tournaments in India," Moin said.

The former captain also took the opportunity to voice his support for his son, Azam Khan, who has faced notable exclusion from key events. Azam Khan was notably dropped from the 2022 T20 World Cup squad by then-chief selector Ramiz Raja, a decision that Moin Khan critiqued heavily.

He also criticized the handling of Azam Khan, stating that the young player's morale was affected by the abrupt changes.

"I watched the entire World Cup and the matches leading up to it, and it seemed like Azam was the number one choice for wicketkeeping and batting. Then suddenly, after just one match, the entire strategy was changed. Azam wasn't given a chance to keep wickets after one match and was dropped after getting out on the very first ball. Any player can get out on the first ball, but here the tradition of developing players that used to exist is no longer there. Whether it's the captain or the management, if they make such quick changes to players, how can we produce good players?" he said.

"In the 2022 World Cup, Azam was also selected for the team, but Ramiz Raja dropped him. At that time, if the chief selector had made a wrong selection, he should have been removed, but they didn't have the courage, and as a result, they demoralized a young player. In this World Cup as well, you can see how he was played. I'm not saying that all the blame lies with the team management and the captain; Azam has his own shortcomings too. He needs to make himself physically and mentally stronger, follow the fitness routines of other sportsmen. For the past month or so, I've noticed he's been working hard to improve his fitness with his trainer Shehzar Mohammad, even taking him along to the Caribbean League. I hope Azam has learned a lot from this experience," he added.