With a hat-trick of losses, it seems Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has isolated Babar Azam & Co. Former Pakistan spinner Rashid Latif has claimed that PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf is not even responding to texts from Babar Azam as the team is facing harsh criticism from all quarters after their loss to Afghanistan in Cricket World Cup.
“Babar Azam has been messaging the chairman. But he is not responding. He even texted Salman Naseer (PCB COO). But he did not respond either. What it is the reason that he is not responding to his captain? Then, you are giving out a press release. You are also saying the central contracts will be redone. Players have not received salaries for five months. Should the players listen to you?” Rashid Latif said on a PTV show.
The development came after reports emerged in Pakistani media that players are not in talking terms and that there is a rift in the team.
However, neither Zaka Ashraf nor PCB did Babar Azam & Co any favours as the board distanced itself from the poor performances.
“Captain Babar Azam and Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq were given freedom and support in forming the squad for the ICC World Cup 2023,” the PCB statement read, implying that it has nothing to do with the poor showing in Cricket World Cup.
The statement further opened the door for change in captaincy, adding that any decision on captaincy will be made after Cricket World Cup.
Babar Azam & Co unhappy
The lack of support from the PCB and the chairman ignoring the captain has not gone down well with the team. One of the players lashed out at PCB, terming the statement “ridiculous”.
“After defeats, criticism is natural, but we are disappointed by the board’s behaviour, which didn’t support us as it should have. False reports of fights among players surfaced initially. When we raised our concerns through the manager, it was blown out of proportion with an unnecessary press release. We only wanted the right facts to come out. Everyone discusses their concerns honestly in meetings, and differences of opinion do arise, but there has never been a fight,” a Pakistani player who did not wish to be named told Cricket Pakistan.
More importantly, the board did not speak to the players before sending the statement. And when they received blowback for the statement, PCB decided to recall media manager Iftikhar Nagi midway through the tournament.
Even coaches are not pleased with PCB’s treatment. Chairman Zaka Ashraf did meet the players and coaching staff to motivate them. But when the team needs them the most, PCB has deserted them.
The foreign coaches implemented a rotation policy for senior players to keep them fresh for the tournament. But the PCB management issued a diktat to “win at all costs” and the rotation policy was abandoned.
Pakistan Schedule for Cricket World Cup
| Date | Day | Team 1 | Team 2 | City | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 6 | Friday | Pakistan | Netherlands | Hyderabad | Pak won by 81 runs |
| Oct 10 | Tuesday | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | Hyderabad | Pak won by 6 wickets |
| Oct 14 | Saturday | India | Pakistan | Ahmedabad | India won by 7 wickets |
| Oct 20 | Friday | Australia | Pakistan | Bengaluru | Aus won by 62 runs |
| Oct 23 | Monday | Pakistan | Afghanistan | Chennai | Pak lost by 8 wickets |
| Oct 27 | Friday | Pakistan | South Africa | Chennai | Pak lost by 1-wicket |
| Oct 31 | Tuesday | Pakistan | Bangladesh | Kolkata | Pak won by 7-wickets |
| Nov 4 | Saturday | New Zealand | Pakistan | Bengaluru | Pakistan won by 21 runs via DLS |
| Nov 11 | Saturday | England | Pakistan | Kolkata | 2:00 PM |
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