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'I Was Surprised,' Imad Wasim On Babar Azam's Reappointment As Pakistan Captain

Imad Wasim reacted to Babar Azam's captaincy return [X]Imad Wasim reacted to Babar Azam's captaincy return [X]

Veteran all-rounder Imad Wasim was surprised to see Babar Azam being reappointed as Pakistan's captain ahead of this year's T20 World Cup. Notably, Babar stepped down from captaincy after Pakistan's horrendous run in the ODI World Cup in India last year. 

However, after his successor Shaheen Afridi's unsuccessful captaincy stint in the New Zealand T20Is and PSL 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board reinstated Babar in the role for the all-important T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean. But unfortunately for Pakistan, the move couldn't change the fortunes of the Men in Green, as they suffered a shambolic group-stage exit following narrow defeats to India and the United States. 

Speaking to a prominent Pakistani journalist, Imad revealed that Babar's reappointment as the captain was surprising for not only him but also the entire country. However, he reckoned that they couldn't have done anything as it was the PCB's decision. 

"Yes, I was surprised. What can I say, it’s ultimately the selector’s call. Whatever they thought was the best option, they picked and they picked the team [accordingly]. Everybody in Pakistan was surprised, not just me. So, I can’t say no that I was not surprised,” Imad said, as quoted by India Today. 

Imad Wasim Opens Up On Pakistan's Miserable T20 World Cup Run

The experienced cricketer also expressed his disappointment at Pakistan's forgettable journey in the T20 World Cup 2024. While their arch-rival, India, lifted the trophy, the Men in Green suffered an embarrassing early exit from the competition. 

"Yeah, our performance wasn't up to the mark to be honest and we have to accept that, including myself. So yeah, but it is what it is. I think we had a good side, but it didn't click. It can happen in any format, especially T20. But yeah, it was disappointing. I was really disappointed. It took me a long time to get over it," Imad added. 

Babar Azam Aims At Redemption In England Tests

Regarding Babar Azam, the renowned batter sustained his rough patch in Test cricket, letting Pakistan down with his abysmal outings in the recently held Bangladesh series. However, the stylish batter redeemed himself with a flamboyant half-century for the Stallions in the Champions Cup. He would like to regain his mojo by performing in the upcoming Test series against England on home soil.