Former Pakistan captain and former coach Javed Miandad said the absence of Babar Azam should not be an excuse for Men in Green for not performing well against New Zealand in the upcoming three-match T20I series starting December 18, Friday, in Auckland.
Babar, Pakistan captain, and their key batsman has been ruled out of the T20I series after suffering a thumb fracture during a practice session and Miandad said his absence shouldn’t haunt the tourists as he asked others to step up and show courage against the Black Caps.
Miandad said in an interview: “This is sports and life goes on. Even if a great is missing in a team, others have to step up and take responsibility. It should not be an excuse for not performing well. Imran Khan or Javed Miandad did not win the 1992 World Cup for Pakistan single-handedly; it was a collective team effort that brought us that glory.”
However, he admitted that Babar’s absence does make a difference but said the tourists should not come under pressure and must respond to the challenge in New Zealand.
Miandad further added, “Babar’s absence should not haunt the team. No doubt, he is our best player at the moment but the team should not come under pressure as there are 11 players in the team who should stand up and be counted in the coming series.”
He signed off by saying that New Zealand will not be an easy side to defeat since “they have improved a lot in recent years as a team” and Pakistan will face a stiff challenge there.
Miandad concluded, “They have always been difficult to beat at home. But we also have some good players who should collectively get together and give their best. I think we can win the series if the selected players play fearless and sensible cricket and don’t come under pressure.”
(With PTI Inputs)
