Pakistan team is facing criticism from all corners after their 1-run loss to Zimbabwe in the Super 12s stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. The Babar Azam-led side had already lost to India in MCG on October 23, and now this loss had put their knockout qualification in severe jeopardy.
The latest to slam the Men in Green was former Pakistan legend Wasim Akram. He vented his anger at captain Babar Azam for lacking leadership qualities that included preparing for Australian conditions while mocking the team to take Gaddafi’s pitch to the World Cup if they are finding it too hard to adjust.
“This is the captain’s job, it should be his vision on how to build a team for the World Cup keeping in mind the pitches. (Pointing at the anchor) As you said the pitches were difficult and if they are difficult then take Gaddafi’s pitch to World Cup and play on it.
There is a lot of planning that goes into the World Cup, you needed an all-rounder who can bowl as the fifth bowler and you had Faheem Ashraf and Amir Jamal for it. You had a year to prepare them. You had a mystery spinner in Abrar (Ahmed), who has been doing amazingly well at the first-class level and was included in the squad for England series but wasn’t played at all over seven games,” said Akram on A Sports show ‘The Pavilion’.
He also showed surprise that the senior Pakistani players were so eager to play all the games that they didn’t take a rest and give chances to some youngsters so they could get opportunities at the highest level. He felt this caused Pakistan to not have a stronger squad for the T20 World Cup.
“I don’t understand why main players are so eager to play all the match. Often you rest the senior players and use the youngsters to have options for the Wolrd Cup. All this is captain’s job, coaches are there to help the captain and you have to lead them by picking players of your choice but now we are down to prayers and ifs and buts again to stay alive in the World Cup. I hope I am wrong and I wish Pakistan qualify but it seems like we are out of the World Cup,” concluded Akram.
Pakistan will now play the Netherlands on Sunday and will hope that they win all of their three remaining matches to keep their hopes of qualification for semis alive.
