Pakistan’s disappointing group-stage exit at the recent T20 World Cup continues to generate discussion. Adding to the conversation is former Indian wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel, whose comments criticising Babar Azam’s leadership have gone viral.
Parthiv Patel Labels Azam “Selfish”
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign was a forgettable one, with defeats to both the United States and arch-rivals India leading to an early exit. The team’s performance naturally sparked scrutiny, with questions raised about Babar Azam’s captaincy decisions.
Patel didn’t hold back when discussing Babar Azam on the YouTube show “Cyrus Says.” He criticised the Pakistan captain, suggesting his batting preference negatively impacted the team’s batting order. “Captain wanted to open, so he had to come down [in the batting order],” Patel stated during a conversation about out-of-form batsman Fakhar Zaman. “If the captain is a selfish player, there’s no chance,” he added bluntly.
Patel Cites Support from Pakistani Legends
When challenged about the boldness of his comments, Patel doubled down, claiming similar criticisms have been voiced by Pakistani cricketing legends. “But I’ve said all of this. There’s nothing new in it. Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, everyone says that,” he remarked.
Fakhar Zaman, a crucial member of Pakistan’s batting line-up, endured a poor tournament with a string of low scores. Patel’s comments suggest that Babar Azam’s decision to open the batting himself may have pushed Zaman down the order, potentially impacting his performance.
Looking Ahead for Pakistan Cricket
With no scheduled matches until a November tour of Australia, Pakistan has some time to address these criticisms and strategise for the upcoming series. The team will also be looking to confirm a potential Test series against Bangladesh in August.
Babar Azam’s captaincy will undoubtedly continue to be a topic of discussion, especially as Pakistan strives to bounce back from their World Cup disappointment. Whether he heeds the critiques of Patel and others or remains committed to his current approach will be a key factor in the team’s future success.
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