Former Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali has opened up on Pakistan Test team’s overhaul ahead of the third and final Test against England in Birmingham. He stated that Pakistan has become consistent in the most negative way.
Notably, Azhar Ali’s comments came after Pakistan suffered heavy defeats at Headingley and Lord’s. PCB decided to add seven new players to Pakistan’s Test squad and axed Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul from the coaching set-up.
“People used to say you could expect anything from Pakistan – that any team could turn up on any given day and either be 46 all out or win from nowhere. But we don’t even do that inconsistency anymore. We’ve become totally consistent – in the most negative way,” Azhar was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
“Cricket in Pakistan needs proper care and a vision that gives hope to a nation on the brink of losing their appetite. If we don’t pull our socks up, we won’t be able to bring people back. You cannot lose hope but the signs are not good,” he added.
Azhar Ali also slammed the senior selector Aaqib Javed, accusing him of trying to distance himself from the team’s poor performances. He went on to add that Javed should take responsibility for the team’s poor performances.
“We have had bad decisions like these for three years now. He (Aaqib Javed) should take responsibility for performances. His judgment should be questioned. I listened to his interview this week and he was trying to put the blame on Sarfaraz and Babar,” he noted.
“He appointed them just a few months earlier! That was enough for me to judge someone. Every decision he makes backfires, and he then says: ‘It’s not me.’ Look at yourself first. And if you cannot control this team, if you cannot make a difference to Pakistan cricket, then step away,” he concluded.
