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[Watch] 'Was Given 4 Years' - Shahid Afridi Slams Babar Azam After WC 2023 Debacle

image-lox03dlxBabar Azam with PAK teammates at the 2023 World Cup (AP)

Former cricketer Shahid Afridi recently berated Pakistan captain Babar Azam after the ‘Men in Green’ crashed out of the World Cup 2023 semi-finals race. Afridi, a former skipper himself, claimed that Babar has failed to deliver the desired results for his country ever since he was first appointed as Pakistan’s all-format captain in 2020.

Shahid Afridi says Babar Azam yet to prove himself

During a recent interaction with the media, former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi reprimanded current skipper Babar Azam after team’s failure to qualify for the 2023 World Cup semi-finals. Afridi believes that Babar is yet to prove his credentials as a good captain, and claimed that the batting maverick lacks the leadership qualities of Pakistan’s 2009 T20 World Cup winning skipper Younis Khan.

The former cricketer added that he has often been criticized for berating Babar Azam’s captaincy, and stated that he had always wanted to see the current skipper thrive in his leadership role. Speaking at a media conference, Shahid Afridi said:

“Babar Azam was given 4 years to prove himself as captain, but he failed to do so. He also says Babar Azam lacks qualities of leaders like Younis Khan who knew how to utilize other players in the team.”

Watch: Shahid Afridi flaks Babar Azam’s captaincy

Under Babar Azam, the Pakistan team launched its World Cup 2023 movement with convincing wins over Netherlands and Sri Lanka in Hyderabad. However, the ‘Men in Green’ slumped to five defeats in their subsequent seven league fixtures, including demoralizing downfalls against arch-rivals India and Afghanistan.

Moreover, Babar Azam also failed to deliver with the bat as the elegant right-hander managed to tally just 320 runs from his eight innings at a substandard average of 40.

Pakistan eventually secured only four wins out of their nine league matches to finish at number five on the World Cup 2023 points table.

Babar is now expected to lead his side in their upcoming two-Test tour of Australia, scheduled to commence this December in Perth.