Former Pakistani batter Imran Nazir has criticized Babar Azam and company for their disastrous display in the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup. The Men in Green recently secured a win against Canada to keep themselves alive for a Super 8 spot, but their chances of progressing are slim as it relies on other matches as well as the net run rate scenario.
Pakistan began their campaign with a shocking defeat to the USA in the Super Over before suffering a loss at the hands of arch-rivals India from a winning position. Fans and pundits have blamed the batters, bowlers, and team management, marking a turbulent period for Pakistan cricket.
Imran Nazir branded the Pakistan team as scared and admitted that the middle-order batters were incapable of rotating the strike properly.
"I am sorry but I am forced to say that cricket is game of the fearless. I haven't seen a more scared team than this. I often discuss that what new excuse they will be making now. There are no excuses in cricket. No matter what pitch or conditions you are getting, you have to perform," Imran Nazir said on a Pakistani TV show.
"In a team, where there's no middle-order batter who can rotate the strike, how can you expect that team to win the World Cup? Eight players together could not make 40 runs? The blame is on the pitch? They got out on bouncers, full tosses, so decide what you have. You neither have good batters, good bowlers, nothing," he added.
Several players like Usman Khan, Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Fakhar Zaman have hardly made any presence in the tournament so far. The team even switched things around by dropping Iftikhar for the Canada clash and changing their opening combination by naming Saim Ayub while Babar Azam dropped to No. 3.
"What should I do with this king who can't win us the match" - Ahmed Shehzad on Pakistan skipper Babar Azam
Apart from Imran Imran Nazir, Ahmed Shehzad also launched a rant on Babar Azam's team. He accused the players of stat padding against smaller teams, and then faltering when it actually matters.
"Aapne B, C, D teams ke khilaaf perform kar ke logon ko hallucinate kiya hai aur pagal banaya hai (you guys have performed against B, C, D teams and fooled the people)," Shehzad said in the same TV show.
"Your (Babar) scores in big competitions...your average is 27 and strike rate is 112. And 1400 of your runs have come in a losing cause. So these stats are of which king, tell me that? What should I do with this king who can't win us the match?" he added.
Pakistan's last group-stage clash against Ireland is scheduled for Sunday, June 16. However, there is a chance of rain potentially spoiling things as the match between Nepal and Sri Lanka at the venue was called off recently.
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