Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has slammed the current Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who is having a disappointing England tour. Notably, Babar could score only eight and six runs across both innings of the Lord’s Test as Pakistan suffered a 194-run defeat to England.
Speaking on YouTube show ‘The Game Plan’, Basit questioned Babar whether he had delivered when his national team required him the most. Interestingly, Babar’s last Test century came against New Zealand in Karachi in December 2022.
“They didn’t become great players just like that. I’m not even talking about Sachin Tendulkar. I’m talking about my own countrymen. When you don’t do anything in difficult times, what’s the point? You’re a great player in your fan following. You’re a great player in front of social media,” Basit said on YouTube show The Game Plan.
“When will you do it? I’m talking about Babar [Azam]. I’ll take his name. He hasn’t scored a (Test) hundred in four years. When will you do it? It’s a matter of pain. When the entire country’s batting depends on you. At least don’t get out by hitting such a shot,” he added.
Unfortunately, Pakistan failed to cross 200 in any of their four innings so far. At Lord’s, they were bowled out for 110 in the first innings before scoring 194 while chasing an imposing target of 389.
On Monday, August 31, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released seven players after suffering a Test series defeat to England away from home. PCB also sacked the Test head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul with immediate effect.
Pakistan’s updated Test squad for the third Test vs England:
Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Fazal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Razaullah, Saad Baig (wk), Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah
