Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis slam Babar Azam for T20 World Cup 2022 debacle

Shaheen Afridi with captain Babar Azam against India (Source: Twitter)

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2022 campaign has gone from bad to worse, especially after their recent shock defeat to Zimbabwe. Under Babar Azam’s leadership, the ‘Men in Green’ lost to their arch-rivals India in a topsy-turvy thriller and later fell a run short against Zimbabwe. They are currently placed at the bottom of the Group B points table, having yet to register their opening points of the tournament.

Several former Pakistani cricketers have criticised team’s lacklustre performance, with captain Azam being the centre of some severe scrutiny. Legendary speedsters Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis have even accused the current skipper for being a “selfish” player who would never sacrifice anything for the team.

Wasim Akram says Babar Azam should play for team

Waqar Younis has described Babar Azam as a selfish player, who has not let anyone else in the Pakistan team to open the innings in the last two years. The former skipper claimed that the opening slot is the easiest place to bat in T20 cricket, and Azam should have experimented with other batters at the top in his times of struggle.

While speaking on The Pavilion, Younis said:

“The easiest place to bat in T20s is opening. You have not let anyone else open in the last two years. You have tried it out with bowling, but with batting, we have tried all the experiments with the middle order. But the openers have remained the same and they have batted 14-15 overs together.”

Wasim Akram also agreed with his former teammate by saying that the current skipper should let his players know that he is ready to make sacrifices for the team.

“All of these things begin at the top. And at the top is your captain. If your captain plays for himself and is insecure. If your captain scores runs and lets other batters play at his position, you get to know that your captain is ready to sacrifice himself for you, this Babar has to learn.”

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