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Babar Azam has come under scrutiny following Pakistan‘s disappointing performance in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The Men in Green entered the 20-team global tournament with high expectations, having been runners-up in the previous edition.
However, their campaign started on a shaky note with a loss to co-hosts USA, followed by a defeat against arch-rivals India. Despite a win against Canada in their third match, these initial setbacks have jeopardized Pakistan’s chances of qualifying for the Super 8 stage.
Criticism mounts against Babar Azam’s captaincy and batting
Criticism has been directed at Babar for both his leadership and batting performance. The Lahore-born cricketer, known for his batting prowess, has managed only 90 runs in three games at an average of 30. Former Pakistan cricketers and pundits have voiced their disappointment with Babar’s on-field contributions.
Ahmed Shehzad’s controversial remarks spark debate
Recently, Ahmed Shehzad made headlines with his harsh critique of Babar. The former Pakistan opener slammed Babar’s figure in the ICC events and even reckoned that he is a ‘fake king’. Notably, Babar is often referred to as the ‘King’ by his admirers as he enjoys immense popularity and adoration among cricket fans around the world.
“You have a strike rate of 112. You have an average of 26 in ICC events. You have played 207 balls in the powerplay but haven’t hit a single six. I think my stats from eight years ago are better than yours. You are a fake King! We play to help win Pakistan tournaments but you are only making a fool of fans on social media with your stats,” Shehzad had said in in Geo News show ‘Haarna Mana Hai’.
Also READ: Ahmed Shehzad rips apart Babar Azam over his poor stats in T20Is; labels Pakistan captain as ‘fake king’
Imam-ul-Haq defends Babar Azam
Imam-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s Test opener and a close friend of Babar, countered Shehzad’s criticism during the same television show panel. While acknowledging Babar’s accountability for the team’s performance, Imam emphasized the importance of respecting Babar’s stature as captain and as a player.
“Everyone has the right to criticize the Pakistan team. But the respect element should never go away. He is your captain. The world has made him a King so it doesn’t make a difference if you consider him that or not. If you want to remove him as a captain then do it, but the respect element should never go away,” said Imam.
— HASSAN (@HassABBASI) June 13, 2024