"Our Cricket In ICU": Pakistan Great's Blunt Take On Babar Azam's Resignation

04.10.2024 - 03:11 sports.ndtv.com

Pakistan's limited-overs team was leaderless on Wednesday after captain Babar Azam resigned, compounding a management crisis experts say has badly affected the team's international performance.

Pakistani cricket is flailing in all formats after a series of stinging losses, with a revolving door of bosses and allegations that nepotism has seeped into the sport.

Azam announced his resignation on his personal social media just before midnight on Tuesday, before an official Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) statement more than 12 hours later.

Pakistan cricket has ploughed through four coaches, three board heads and four captains in the past two years, at the same time sliding down international standings. "It's a leadership crisis," former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif told AFP. "Pakistan cricket is in the ICU with no specialist for treatment." Azam's resignation came hours before England touched down on Wednesday for a three-match Test series that follows Pakistan's humiliating 2-0 home series defeat to lowly ranked Bangladesh last month.

cricket Pakistan Cricket Team Shaheen Afridi Babar Azam Mohammad Rizwan Usa Bangladesh Pakistan

Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman is likely to escape with a reprimand for criticising the PCB ahead of the squad announcement, where it planned to drop former skipper Babar Azam for two Tests against England. Azam, along with several senior players, got eventually dropped for two Test days after Fakhar expressed his displeasure on social media. Fakhar was issued a show-cause notice by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after he tweeted his views where he compared Azam's run drought with India's Virat Kohli, who went through a lean patch between 2020 and late 2022.

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Babar Azam To Return To Pakistan Squad? Ex-Pakistan Star Basit Ali Makes Bold Prediction

Former cricketer Basit Ali rooted for Babar Azam to return to the Pakistan setup after being dropped from the squad for the second and third home Tests against England. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reconstituted the new selection committee an hour after Pakistan's historic loss by innings and 47 runs in the opening Test, the star quartet featuring Babar, former captain Sarfraz Ahmed and speedsters Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah were left out of the team.

Babar Azam's Reaction Goes Viral After Test Replacement Kamran Ghulam Slams Debut Ton

Pakistan cricket team batter Kamran Ghulam impressed everyone on debut as he slammed a gritty century on Day 1 of the second Test match against England on Tuesday. Ghulam looked at ease against the England bowlers and he ended up scoring 118 off 224 deliveries with the help of 11 fours and 1 six. The 29-year-old replaced Babar Azam in the starting XI after the former Pakistan captain was dropped following a dismal run. Following the ton, Babar took to social media to congratulate Ghulam on his achievement as he wrote on his Instagram story - "Well done Kamran".