Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir was critical of Babar Azam’s captaincy and how he handled all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz after the Men in Green suffered a five-wicket loss to England in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Final at the MCG on November 13.
Amir lashed out at Babar for his poor decision-making and not acting on his words, especially in Mohammad Nawaz’s case, saying if the skipper had trusted the star all-rounder, he could have done something special in the big final against England on Sunday.
Mohammad Amir said on 24 News HD: “Hamaari bowling ne poore tournament me sabse achhi bowling ki hai. Koi team hamein khulke nahi maar saki. Ye credit jaata hai hamaare bowlers ko. Yes, Nawaz ka mujhe khud samajh nahi aaya. Pehle match ke baad dressing room me video ban rahi hai ki tujhe fikar nahi karni, tu mera match-winner hai. Uske baad poore tournament laga hi nahi vo batsman khel raha hai ya bowler khel raha hai.
(Our bowling has been the best in this tournament, no one could attack us. But yes, I can't understand Nawaz's case. After the first match against India, there was a video made in the dressing room where Babar told Nawaz he was a match-winner. After that, it was hard to judge whether he played as a batsman or a bowler).”
He wasn’t happy to see Nawaz was not given enough opportunity in the T20 World Cup 2022 final against England.
The pacer added, “Ya toh aapko apne players pe trust nahi hai, ye sirf kehne ki hi baat hai. Agar aap bol rahe ho toh usko poora bhi karo. Nawaz PSL me pehla over karta hai. Thoda toh trust show karo uspe. Nawaz ne kuch matches aise jitwaaye hain ki aap soch bhi nahi sakte ho.
Aaj vo kar sakta tha. Jis wicket pe seam ho raha hota, vahan spinners zyada dangerous hote hain. Toh mujhe samajh nahi aayi ye. (It shows you don't trust your player. If you're saying something, you should act on it. Nawaz bowls the first over in PSL. He has won matches on his own. He could've done something today. I couldn't understand the decision).”
Amir also said that Babar is not a “brave” captain, as he didn’t take any brave decisions during the tournament.
He signed off by saying, “Harry Brook Shadab se phasa hua tha. Vahan Nawaz ka armor bhi bohot achha hai. Udhar aapko wicket mil sakti thi. Fir vo kehte hain ki ji tanqeed karte hain. Captain brave hota hai, situation ko read karta hai. Aapne brave decisions nahi liye, and jab aap haarte ho toh ye cheezein nazar aati hain.
(Harry Brook was struggling against Shadab Khan. Nawaz could've done something there. But then again, they will say that I criticise a lot. Captain should be brave. You didn't take brave decisions, and when you lose, these things are visible).”
