Babar Azam-led Pakistan had a disappointing run in the T20 World Cup 2024, and Inzamam-ul-Haq, a former captain and chief selector for the team, believes poor selection choices are to blame. Pakistan failed to progress past the group stage. They suffered defeats against both the USA and India, ultimately falling short of qualification for the Super 8s. Their campaign started with a shocking loss to the USA in a close Super Over finish. Pakistan's bowlers were unable to defend a total of 159 runs.
Their struggles continued with a heavy defeat against India. Although the bowlers restricted India to a modest score of 119 runs, the Pakistan batsmen faltered, only managing 113 runs themselves. The team did manage to secure victories against Canada and Ireland later in the tournament, but these wins weren't enough to secure a spot in the next round. India and the USA, both from Group A, progressed to the Super 8s.
Inzamam Ul Haq cracks whip at Pakistan team
In the wake of Pakistan's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup, Inzamam-ul-Haq, a highly respected figure in Pakistani cricket, has called for a critical review of the team selection process. He believes the squad lacked balance due to an overreliance on opening batsmen. In his opinion, the selectors should prioritize selecting strong middle-order batsmen to create a more well-rounded team for future tournaments.
"Jis tarah ki selection hui hai, aisi selection nahi karni hai. Pehle se lekar paanchwi tak sab openers hi khel rahe hai. Koi middle-order hi nahi hai Pakistan me. Badi sharamdagi hoti hai ki poore Pakistan me koi middle order batsmen hi nahi hai, jisko hum select kar sake," (The way the selection was done, it should not be done like that. From the first to the fifth, only openers are playing. There is no middle order in Pakistan at all. It is a big shame that there is no middle-order batsman in the whole of Pakistan whom we can select)," Inzaman said on his YouTube channel.
In addition to the lack of middle-order batsmen, he criticized the selection of a player chosen as a spinner who never bowled during the tournament.
"Bowlers aise hai ki woh as a spinner select huwe hai aur woh batsman ban gaya, woh bowling kar hi nahi rahe. Teen teen matches ho gaye, nahi kar rahe. Iss tarah ki selection nahi honi chahiye, yeh thoda sa change hona chahiye (Translation- The bowlers were selected as spinners, but they have become batsmen. They haven't been bowling at all. Three matches have gone by, and they're still not bowling. This is not how selection should be done. There needs to be some change)," Inzamam added.
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