Former Pakistan cricketer Atiq-uz-Zaman unleashed a scathing critique on Babar Azam and his teammates following Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024.
Atiq expressed dismay over what he perceived as a lack of professionalism and focus among the players during the tournament.
In a viral video on social media, Atiq criticized the team for what he described as treating the event like a vacation rather than a serious cricketing endeavor.
“You have 17 officials and 17 players, and they say you booked 60 rooms. Are you there to play cricket or on vacation?”
He highlighted the excessive number of officials and hotel rooms allegedly booked by the team, suggesting it was inappropriate for a cricketing tour. Atiq questioned whether the players were there to play cricket or simply enjoy themselves.
He also took aim at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), criticizing the practice of allowing players’ families to accompany them on such important tours.
Atiq argued that this distracted players from their cricketing duties, emphasizing that they seemed more focused on leisure activities and family time rather than preparing and performing on the field.
Atiq’s rant underscored broader concerns about discipline and commitment within Pakistan cricket, lamenting a perceived lack of professionalism and dedication among the current crop of players.
His comments sparked widespread debate and reflection within the cricketing community about the standards and priorities of international cricket teams.
