Former spinner Saeed Ajmal has criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the harsh treatment of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan after being dropped from the T20I squad for Pakistan tour of New Zealand.
Ajmal cited the example of the support Virat Kohli received from Indian selectors during his slump and accused Pakistan cricket of treatment over Babar Azam.
Ajmal stated that Pakistan Cricket would struggle to flourish if it continued to pull down its ‘only star’ Babar Azam. The off-spinners urged former Pakistan cricketers to refrain negativity surrounding their top players.
Babar has endured a rough patches since the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, where he managed 320 runs in nine matches. He also struggled deepened in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Pakistan under Babar Azam’s captaincy, crashed out in the group stage.
After stepping down as captain following the ODI World Cup debacle, Babar was reinstated as skipper just before the T20 World Cup. However, in the USA and the West Indies, he scored only 122 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 101.
“Look at the way India backed Virat Kohli. His bad patch continued for a long time, but no one forced him to quit, and not many wanted him to leave. Meanwhile, Babar, who is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars of Pakistan cricket, is going through a lull, and everyone is busy pulling him down,” said Saeed Ajmal.
“Aapke paas ek hi toh star hai (You have only one star). If you degrade him too, then how will your cricket survive? These are the big issues. Our former cricketers should keep their mouths shut,” he added.
After Pakistan’s Champions Trophy failure, Babar Azam has been dropped from the T20I squad for the tour of New Zealand, along with Mohammad Rizwan. However, both batters have been included in the ODI squad for the tour.
“As a cricketer, one must understand that bad patches are part of a player’s career. You can’t play cricket the same way all your life. Even Sachin Tendulkar couldn’t score 100 runs in every match-he has been dismissed for a duck as well. He is a world-class player, but he too experienced lean phases,” said Saeed Ajmal.
“So, you have to show some patience. Cricketers give everything to the sport, and when the chips are down, they need that support. When he’s World No.1, he does not need backing-it’s during tough times that he needs it the most.”
The first match of the T20I series will be played on March 16 at Hagley Oval.
