Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has strongly criticized the Pakistan cricket setup, highlighting what he sees as obvious hypocrisy and favoritism following Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024. Pakistan’s stunning defeat to USA and incapability to advance previous the group stage, together with an important loss to arch-rivals India, have intensified scrutiny on their group administration.
Virender Sehwag’s accusations of favoritism in participant choice
Talking to Cricbuzz, Sehwag particularly focused Pakistan selector Wahab Riaz, accusing him of favoritism in group choice. Riaz, who took over as chief selector just lately, swiftly recalled Mohammad Amir to the squad regardless of the left-arm pacer having retired from worldwide cricket in 2021 and publicly criticizing the group on TV.
Sehwag questioned the integrity of selectors who as soon as criticized the system however then promoted their colleagues as soon as in energy, emphasizing the necessity for equity and foresight in participant choice.
“Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir are the 2 names who used to present their opinions on Pakistan TV information channels in opposition to their nationwide group. Now one in all them is a selector and the opposite is in taking part in XI. They have been criticizing the group as soon as and now after they have come to energy, what are they doing?” Sehwag stated.
“So the identical individuals who have been criticizing (Pakistan cricket), if right this moment they’ve energy, grew to become the selector, what have they finished first up? ‘Mohammad Amir was with me, let’s choose him,” the 45-year-old added.
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Comparability to India’s cricket governance
Evaluating the state of affairs to India’s cricket governance, Sehwag cited the hypothetical situation of a former participant like Ajit Agarkar, now a selector, exhibiting bias in direction of retired gamers over the present crop. He confused the significance of selectors prioritizing the way forward for the group relatively than private preferences or previous allegiances.
“Now that Ajit Agarkar is the chairman of selectors for BCCI, he would say ‘Come on Viru, I’ll enable you to make a comeback into the group’. This isn’t finished. You need to see the longer term. You may have grow to be a selector, you’ve got a job in hand. Use it in the appropriate method, don’t do favours,” Sehwag concluded.
Backlash over Pakistan’s captaincy choices
Along with choice controversies, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confronted backlash over its dealing with of captaincy choices. After Shaheen Afridi‘s transient tenure as T20I captain ended abruptly, Babar Azam was reinstated regardless of criticism following Pakistan’s disappointing efficiency within the earlier 50-overs World Cup. This choice, meant to stabilize management, has but to yield constructive outcomes as Pakistan as soon as once more faltered in a serious ICC match underneath Babar’s captaincy.