The previous Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief and former captain, Ramiz Raja, has slammed the choice to drop Babar Azam from the Take a look at squad, branding it a “knee-jerk response” by nationwide selectors and PCB to the star batter’s lean patch within the format.
The Pakistan selectors’ stunning name got here after Babar struggled to seek out type with the bat, as the previous captain failed to attain fifty in almost two years, resulting in his omission from the Take a look at squad for the second and third Checks of the continuing house sequence in opposition to England.
Ramiz Raja slams PCB for dropping Babar Azam from Take a look at facet
Aside from Babar Azam, the nationwide selectors additionally dropped the star bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah for the remaining matches of the continuing England sequence.
Nevertheless, amid the uproar, Pakistan’s assistant coach Azhar Mahmood insisted that Babar was simply “rested” moderately than dropped and reaffirmed that the star batter will stay their primary batter.
In an official assertion from the PCB, selector Aaqib Javed emphasised that the choice was made to prioritize the most effective pursuits of Pakistan cricket and the gamers. He said: “We’ve made the choice to relaxation Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.”
It ought to have been Babar Azam’s name: Ramiz Raja
In the meantime, Ramiz Raja did not maintain again and slammed the PCB and nationwide selectors for dropping Babar Azam from the staff in the course of the England sequence at house. The commentator stated that even when Babar needed to take a break, the decision ought to have been made by the right-hander himself.
Talking candidly on Sky Sports activities, Ramiz Raja said: “It ought to have been Babar’s name whether or not he needed outing from the taking part in XI or not. I believe it was a knee-jerk response; new selectors in; the overall opinion was that he wanted relaxation, and he was taken out of the squad utterly.”
In the meantime, Raja has expressed concern that Babar Azam’s removing from the staff might have important penalties for sponsors. He emphasised that Babar is especially the one marketable star within the Pakistan cricket staff, and with out his presence, the viewership for the second Take a look at in opposition to England will endure. Raja famous that sponsors are apprehensive in the meanwhile.
I do not see any saleable commodity within the Pakistan staff: Ramiz Raja
Raja signed off by saying, “Now we have to perceive that he sells cricket for Pakistan and this debate that is taking place proper now in Pakistan whether or not there’s going to be one other failure for Babar Azam or whether or not he will make a comeback, and that retains issues attention-grabbing.
Proper now, I do not see any saleable commodity within the Pakistan staff as a result of sponsors are somewhat cautious as nicely as a result of Pakistan has been on a shedding streak and there aren’t any actual superstars taking part in on this Take a look at match now.”
“It ought to’ve been Babar’s name” đź‘€
Ramiz Raja discusses Babar Azam being dropped from the second Take a look at 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/5Qsyn6SrJM
— Sky Sports activities Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 15, 2024
Notably, Pakistan had received the toss and determined to bat first within the second Take a look at in opposition to England in Multan. Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique and captain Shan Masood fell cheaply for simply seven and three runs, respectively.
Nevertheless, Saim Ayub and Kamran Ghulam’s fifty introduced some stability to their innings in opposition to England on the Multan Cricket Stadium.
