New Delhi: After facing backlash for their poor performance resulting in an early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan players are now facing criticism for taking their families along in the showpiece event. The Men in Green faced an early exit from the event after losing to hosts USA and arch-rivals India in the group stage matches.
According to media reports, apart from the 34 players, support staff and officials in USA, the hotels were occupied with as many as 26 to 28 family members of the team. These members included wives, children, parents and in some cases siblings also. As per reports, players like skipper Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman and Muhammad Amir were among those who took their family members along.
Babar takes siblings, parents
Babar, who is not married, had his father, mother and brothers staying in the team hotel. The extra expenses incurred on having families is obviously paid by players but having family members around does hit the focus of the players.
The report further mentions that almost 60 rooms were booked where the team stayed to accommodate the other people travelling with the team. The environment was a family one with take-away dinners and outings being the norm for some players.
Meanwhile, former Test wicketkeeper, Atiq uz Zaman said he could understand the players’ need to have their families with them on low-profile or bilateral tours. But for a major event like the World Cup, the PCB should not have allowed such a gathering.
“In a World Cup, no families should have been allowed as the players needed to focus on their cricket. When you have families with you then a player’s attention and time is diverted from cricket,” Zaman said.
Pakistan cricket team made an early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024 after crashing out in the group stage. After facing backlash for the same, they are now facing criticism for taking their families along in the showpiece event. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
