Azhar said the Pakistan team has become consistent in the most negative way.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken the cricketing world by storm by axing seven players and two coaches midway through their Test tour of England.
Pakistan suffered crushing defeats in the first two Tests—by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley, followed by a 194-run rout at Lord's. This handed England an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Following the debacle, the PCB took the unprecedented step of sending seven players home, including senior names like Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha.
Red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also relieved of their duties, with white-ball head coach Mike Hesson being given the backroom responsibilities for the rest of the England tour.
Seven players, including five uncapped, have been added to the squad ahead of the third and final Test at Edgbaston starting September 9.
The drastic mid-tour purge has triggered immense backlash, with former captain Azhar Ali expressing deep disappointment while also stating that the team has become consistent in the most negative way.
"People used to say you could expect anything from Pakistan – that any team could turn up on any given day and either be 46 all out or win from nowhere. But we don't even do that inconsistency any more. We've become totally consistent – in the most negative way.
“Cricket in Pakistan needs proper care and a vision that gives hope to a nation on the brink of losing their appetite. If we don't pull our socks up, we won't be able to bring people back. You cannot lose hope but the signs are not good," Azhar was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
Azhar launched a scathing attack on High Performance Director and senior selector Aaqib Javed for trying to distance himself from the squad's poor performances.
"We have had bad decisions like these for three years now. He should take responsibility for performances. His judgment should be questioned. I listened to his interview this week and he was trying to put the blame on Sarfaraz and Babar.
“He appointed them just a few months earlier! That was enough for me to judge someone. Every decision he makes backfires and he then says: ‘It's not me.' Look at yourself first. And if you cannot control this team, if you cannot make a difference to Pakistan cricket, then step away."
Azhar also sympathised with captain Babar Azam, citing that leading Pakistan is extremely difficult right now due to constant public scrutiny and unstable management.
"It is probably the worst time to captain Pakistan right now. He has to consider his options too, I believe. Every player goes through periods of low scores but as a nation we just kept expecting him to deliver and criticism followed.
“It has played on his mind and he has doubted himself, while lacking any internal support. I don't think he is as mentally strong as Misbah or, say, Younis Khan. Misbah was not as talented as Babar but he was far tougher. Younis faced criticism but never lost his targets. Everyone is different though. We have to realise that and create an environment where he can flourish, not be pulled back."
Azhar Ali emphasized that turning the team around will require patience and structured administrative backing, rejecting the idea of quick fixes.
"We need a settled structure and one where people are hired and backed for three-to-four years. Right now the under-19s, for example, are leaderless. But that role is arguably more important than the head coach of the senior side. We know where this Test team is currently and have to accept that.
“But major work done by competent people in the pathway – that is how we come back. It's not about quick fixes. We cannot change in the space of a year. That's impossible. But four to five? I believe the talent is there to make it happen."
(With IANS Inputs)