Babar Azam, the Pakistan white-ball skipper, has been under fire for his poor leadership after the Men in Green failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024. Pakistan had lost to India and USA in their group stage matches.
Fans and former cricketers have therefore targeted Babar Azam. Even some 'defamation' statements have been made against Babar and his crew. During this 'targeted effort,' rumors have surfaced indicating that 'legal action' will be taken against those who have launched an unlawful attack on Babar Azam & Co.
Many YouTubers and former cricketers who accused Babar of 'misconduct' during the ongoing T20 World Cup campaign have received a warning.
Amidst all this, Ahmad Shahzad, veteran Pakistani batter, doubled down his attack at Babar and the Pakistan team.
Not threatened by the 'legal threat,' Shahzad stated that questions should be addressed of Babar regarding the judgments he took over the last five years, which have resulted in Pakistan losing multiple worldwide events.
"Former players that he (Babar) is talking about, they should also file a case on him asking when you had a team for 5 years, where have you brought the team, to the 7th spot. The domestic cricketers whom you didn't select for the team, you went ahead with one group, kept on saying that this group will win you matches, but that didn't happen, and those domestic cricketers who didn't get a chance in the past 5 years, they should also file a case and ask questions.
They should also ask Babar how you kept adjusting your friends in the team, who you turn into bowlers when they can't bat, turn into batsmen when they can't bowl, and when they do nothing, you adjust them by making them fielders,” Shahzad said on a Pakistan TV show.
Shahzad even asserted that those players who criticised Babar in the past are now rubbing shoulders in the same team with him.
He added: “Then you (Babar) should ask that the people who used to criticize you are now in the team, you are their captain, then your sentiments didn't get hurt? Then the selectors who 3 months ago used to say that you don't know captaincy, you are not captaincy material, now you are saying 'yes yes' to them, then your sentiments didn't get hurt? There also you should have filed a case.
It has been reported that the PCB's legal staff is searching for measures to punish those who defamed Babar and the Pakistan team during the World Cup.
To this, Shahzad retorted, "After losing 3 World Cups, 2 Asia Cups, you (Babar) were made captain again after 2 months, you should have asked the question how you were made the captain? Is it only you whose sentiments are getting hurt, not of the fans? We always tell the public the truth, we don't body shame anyone, we don't even take wrong names, we talk only about cricket, Pakistan cricket. What have you done? You always try to find an escape route."
"Even great players like Messi and Ronaldo, who have a huge fan following, are criticized. Even the effigies of Messi were burnt recently, shoes were hurled at their photos. But they are sportsmen, they take all this in their stride. You should also take the criticism positively, but instead you are saying you will file defamation cases against former cricketers. We were also criticized, so much that we didn't get the third match after two bad matches. We didn't say anything to anyone. You get paid to do well. Even the cameraman here has a job to do, even if he doesn't do it properly, he is also answerable," Shahzad concluded.
