Former Pakistani cricketers criticize Babar Azam and team’s meek tactics at the Asia Cup

Former Pakistani cricket players have criticized Babar Azam harshly for his poor captaincy, timid approach, and unexpected team selection following Pakistan’s narrow 2-run loss by DLS against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup Super Four stage game on Thursday.

Due to the defeat, Pakistan was forced to withdraw from the Asia Cup, giving Sri Lanka the opportunity to match up against seven-time winners India in the championship game on Sunday at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Ramiz Raja, a former captain and the head of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), criticized the team’s strategy, saying the Men in Green still haven’t recovered mentally from their Super Four defeat against India.

“Pakistan’s psychological state has been damaged by the lopsided loss to India. They seemed to be carrying that defeat into this game as well. They seemed fearful and timid, and they failed to win the game. The top order, including Babar Azam, seemed too cautious. Ramiz was cited as stating on his YouTube channel, “They lacked authority.

He also questioned Babar’s leadership and the choice of an ineffective Fakhar Zaman.

“Fakhar Zaman is now a walking wicket. His nonverbal cues are startling. Fakhar ought to, in my opinion, decline to participate. Babar has had trouble on a slower track, with the exception of one or two innings. He also has to do a better job as captain. He should make judgments with authority, he added.

The former captain also referenced the example of his colleague Inzamam-ul-Haq, who despite having a stomach ailment in the 1992 World Cup semifinal, scored 60 runs for Pakistan. Because of a back spasm and a fever, Inzamam’s nephew Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel were unable to attend on Thursday, but Raza thought that the players should have taken a risk.

“Inzi declined to participate in the semifinals on the morning of the game. He had trouble sleeping. He was experiencing gastrointestinal problems. He was instructed that he had no choice but to participate. He showed there and delivered a flawless knock. Players who aren’t fully fit should take chances if they want to develop into great players, he added.

Many Pakistani athletes agreed with Raza’s views, including Shoaib Akhtar, who called the team’s defeat to the Islanders “embarrassing” and urged the management to straighten things out before the ICC World Cup, which begins in India on October 5.

“This is an extremely humiliating loss. I’m terribly bummed out. It has a tacky appearance. There are too many riddles for the team management to answer before the World Cup, according to Akhtar, including the failure of Pakistan’s speed batteries, the openers’ form, the middle order’s confusion, and the spinners’ run-leakage.

“Pakistan earned a spot in the championship. They were beloved. Unfortunately, the Asia Cup final will not include an India vs. Pakistan match. Sri Lanka deserves praise for maintaining composure under pressure. No depth exists in our intermediate order. We need a good spinner, he said.

The captaincy needs to improve. Sort out your final XI. Pakistan has a fantastic opportunity in India, I’m convinced of it. They must reflect on what went wrong at the Asia Cup, Akhtar said.

Former wicketkeepers Rashid Latif and Kamran Akmal questioned Pakistan’s strategy of changing up their batting order against Sri Lanka by demoting in-form batsman Iftikhar Ahmed.

Iftikhar was despatched before (Mohammed) Nawaz and (Mohammed) Haris, who aren’t even regulars. Latif questioned on his YouTube channel, “How could they bat ahead of Ifitkhar?

Akmal agreed with Latif’s assessment, saying, “It was a bad choice. Why was Nawaz sent before Iftikhar, exactly? I’m unable to grasp this choice; it’s Ye kaun si decision hai, mere samajh ke bahar hai.

The former stumper also criticized Pakistan’s bowling, saying that without injured bowlers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, it lacked sting.

“Against India, the same Sri Lankan squad was unable to finish off the 213 runs that were scored. 252 was a significant sum, and we were unable to hold it. This is a humiliating loss. The absence of Pakistan from the championship game is concerning,” Akmal stated.