PAK Legend Criticizes Shoaib Malik for Saying “Babar Should Quit”

The Babar Azam-led Pakistan cricket team was destroyed by India in the current ODI World Cup 2023 match on Saturday in Ahmedabad, leaving a multitude of previous players perplexed. After bowling Pakistan out for only 191, players like Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer scored fifty-plus scores to lead India to victory with 117 balls remaining. Former captain Shoaib Malik delivered a stinging assault on Babar Azam after the team’s eighth defeat in a World Cup game against the men in blue, criticizing his ODI leadership skills.

Speaking on A Sports, Malik questioned Babar’s capacity for original thought while serving as captain and stated that if the latter resigned, it would help him improve as a batter.

“I already expressed the view that Babar Azam need to relinquish the captaincy. This is just what I think. As a captain, Babar doesn’t think beyond the box. He is serving as captain, but nothing is changing. As a player, he “can do wonders for Pakistan,” he remarked.

The criticism incensed Pakistan icon Mohammad Yousuf, who not only criticized Malik for his comments but also the panel’s former captain Wasim Akram.

Yousuf said on Samaa TV that past players should support the squad when it is under strain rather than criticizing them in public. He went on to use the great Imran Khan as an example, noting that the greatest all-around player led Pakistan to World Cup victory on his third try.

“I don’t think anyone should discuss this during the World Cup,” said the speaker. Second, Imran Khan led the team in 1983 and 1987, losing both times before triumphing in 1992 on his third try. Any talented player should be let to serve as captain for an extended period of time. Because of his aptitude, he is the captain. Due to his ties to the PCB chairman, he was denied the position of captain. He is a true captain,” Yousuf stated.

The former was taken aback by Akram’s decision to let Malik finish speaking about Babar Azam without interjecting.