Dark clouds loom over Pakistan cricket as the Babar Azam-led team stares down a potential first-round exit from the T20 World Cup 2024. With two losses and only one win under their belt, Pakistan's qualification for the Super 8 stage seems unlikely.
Pakistan face potential shakeup after T20 World Cup woes
Pakistan's horrendous show in the T20 World Cup 2024 reportedly prompted a swift reaction from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). According to a Cricket Pakistan.com report, the team is likely to undergo a major shake up. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly convened a meeting with board members and former cricketers to discuss a potential 'operation clean up'. The report suggests a significant shakeup could be on the horizon, with at least six players from the current T20 World Cup squad facing the axe. The PCB is said to be targeting both underperforming players and those involved in internal team politics.
The report throws shade on team selection, suggesting favoritism may have played a role. Some squad members might have retained their spots due to personal ties with Captain Babar Azam, regardless of their on-field performance. Babar's captaincy itself isn't spared criticism. The report claims team members are unhappy with his leadership, calling it ‘weak’. The report takes a sensational turn, alleging that many players, including Babar, share the same management company. This company is accused of running coordinated social media campaigns to influence team selection. A PCB press conference is expected soon, where they'll likely address these issues. However, the extent of their transparency remains unclear.
Recently, PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, strongly rebuked the Pakistan players after amidst their dismal outing in the ongoing T20 World Cup, suggesting that the team required major surgery.
“It seemed initially that a minor surgery would suffice but following the extremely poor performance against India, it is clear that a major surgery is necessary. Our performance is at its lowest. Improving the team’s performance is our biggest challenge," Naqvi had told the Pakistan media.
Babar Azam-led Pakistan team hit a new low when they suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of USA. Pakistan's misery didn't stop there, as India landed yet another blow to them with a comeback victory to dent Men in Green's Super 8 qualification chance. However, Pakistan did manage to eke out a win against Canada but their Super 8 hopes still hangs by a thread.
Naqvi after Pakistan's humiliating defeat against USA had earlier said:
“It is very disappointing the way we lost to the USA and now this loss to India. We need to now start looking at players beyond those in the team right now. Why the team is not performing is something everyone is asking. The World Cup is still on. But, obviously, we will sit down and take a look at everything”.
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