Islamabad, Oct 14: Ex-England Captain Slams PCB’s Decision to Drop Babar Azam
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decision to remove Babar Azam from the Test squad has drawn harsh criticism from former England batsman Michael Vaughan.
Star batsman Babar Azam will not play in the next two Test matches against England, according to the decision made by Pakistan’s new selection committee. The former England captain has harshly criticized this choice, calling it a “completely stupid decision.”
Even with his recent decline in performance, Vaughan thinks Babar is still Pakistan’s finest batsman. Michael Vaughan expressed his shock on social media platform X by writing,
So, Pakistan haven’t won in a while. Go 1 nil down in the series and decide to drop the best player in Babar Azam. I guess Pakistan cricket is full of surprises, but this tops the lot. absolutely stupid decision. unless he has asked for a break.
So, Pakistan haven’t won in a while. Go 1 nil down in the series and decide to drop the best player in @babarazam258 … I guess Pakistan cricket is full of surprises, but this tops the lot. absolutely stupid decision. unless he has asked for a break!!!
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 13, 2024
Ex-England Captain Slams PCB’s Decision to Drop Babar Azam Despite objections from head coach Jason Gillespie and captain Shan Masood, the decision to omit Babar was apparently decided to give him time away from cricket to rebuild his form.
Babar has notched a fifty in his previous nine Test matches, a sign of recent struggles. His form over the previous three years has also been worrying.
Despite Pakistan scoring a strong 556 in their first innings, the team lost by an innings and 47 runs in the first Test against England because Babar could only muster scores of 30 and 5.
Fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi were both dropped, along with Babar, in what many saw as a panicked decision by the selectors. Pakistan’s Test team is under strain because they haven’t won a home Test match since their 2021 triumph against South Africa.
They have since lost matches against Bangladesh, Australia, and England. England has regained the lead in the current series after previously routing Pakistan 3-0.
