Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign ended in utter disappointment, and veteran cricketer Ahmed Shehzad wasn’t shy about pointing fingers. He heavily criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for reappointing Babar Azam as captain, calling it the “worst decision” by the new chairman, Mohsin Naqvi.
Ahmed Shehzad lambasts Babar Azam!
Shehzad’s main argument is that Babar had already been “tried and tested” during his previous captaincy stint, which culminated in a disastrous ODI World Cup campaign last year in India. He believes Babar’s leadership wasn’t effective, and bringing him back didn’t address the team’s issues. “Making Babar Azam [the captain again] was the worst decision by the PCB chairman because he was a tried and tested captain. Wahab Riaz has handled things very unprofessionally,” Shehzad told Geo News.
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Babar’s reinstatement as captain, following Shaheen Afridi’s short stint, was supposed to bring stability. However, Pakistan continued with lackluster performances. They lost a home series to New Zealand’s second-string side, lost a game against Ireland before being decimated 2-0 against England.
Their early exit from the T20 World Cup, marked by defeats to USA and India, is a stark reminder of their ongoing slump. The team looked out of sorts, largely failing as a batting unit and not providing any spark of brilliance on the field as well.
This isn’t the first time Shehzad has voiced his disapproval of Babar’s captaincy. Earlier this month, after Pakistan’s loss to USA, Shehzad accused Babar of prioritizing friendships over team meritocracy and lacking true leadership qualities. Shehzad’s criticism reflects the frustration of many Pakistani fans. With the team’s future uncertain, the PCB faces pressure to address leadership concerns and find a winning formula.
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