New Delhi: Pakistan cricket team and skipper Babar Azam have been facing criticism from all corners for their poor show in the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024. Pakistan failed to make it past the group stage in the showpiece event as they bowed out of the tournament after back-to-back defeats against USA and India. Pakistan suffered a shock Super Over defeat against USA before losing a low-scoring thriller against arch-rivals India.
Two successive defeats in their first two matches derailed their campaign as Pakistan failed to make it to the Super Eight despite winning their next two matches. Babar, who was reinstated as Pakistan’s captain ahead of the T20 World Cup, has been facing the heat once again amid questions over his leadership qualities and his captaincy.
Recently, former India wicket-keeper batter Parthiv Patel took a dig at Babar and called him a selfish captain for keeping the opening role to himself and not allowing Fakhar Zaman to open for the team in the T20 World Cup 2024. There was a lot of debate over who should open for Pakistan in the showpiece event ahead of the start of the tournament.
Young Saim Ayub was tried as an opener during Pakistan’s T20I series against New Zealand at home in January this year. He opened with Mohammad Rizwan with Babar batting at no.3. However, Babar once again started to open as soon as the T20 World Cup 2024 got underway. When asked about Zaman on a talk show, Parthiv said a team cannot win if the captain is selfish, taking a potshot at Babar.
“Captain wanted to open, so he (Zaman) had to come down if the captain is a selfish player there’s no chance,” Parthiv said on IVM Podcasts.
“There is nothing new in it. Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, everyone says that,” he added. The clip of his comments went viral on social media, sparking angry reactions from Pakistan fans.
Parthiv Patel making fun of Babar Azam, he is hitting below the belt pic.twitter.com/VrpcUUBWdN
— Ghumman (@emclub77) July 1, 2024
Pakistan don’t have T20 kind of players: Parthiv Patel
Further talking about Pakistan’s dismal show in the T20 World Cup 2024 where they bowed out after two wins in their first four matches in the group stage, Parthiv said the Men in Green don’t have quality players as far as T20s are concerned. Parthiv said Pakistan are lagging while other teams have improved a lot in the shortest format.
“They don’t have players; they don’t have T20 kind of players. The way cricket is going right now, we are talking about a strike rate of 150-160 and these guys are still in the 120s. They are far behind than any other international side,” said Parthiv.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning a major overhaul in the squad after their T20 World Cup debacle and Babar’s captaincy is reportedly under threat.
Former India wicket-keeper batter Parthiv Patel took a dig at Pakistan captain Babar Azam and called him selfish for not letting Fakhar Zaman open the batting for the team in the T20 World Cup 2024. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
