Former Pakistan bowler Aaqib Javed launched a scathing attack at the country's national cricket team captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan in the aftermath of Men in Green's disappointing Asia Cup 2022 final defeat against Sri Lanka.
"These two openers (Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan) are not going to win you tournaments. Take the two openers, No.1 and No.2 players in the world. But such a player should know what to do. The vice-captain plays for 15 overs – starts playing when the asking rate is 8 and leaves after taking it to 17!," Aaqib Javed told reporters.
The former Pakistan didn't stop there. He criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board, selectors and the management for not looking at the bench strength.
"Paanch saaal mey ghuma-ghuma ke (in 5 years) Iftiqhar Ahmed has come back 4 times. Same with Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah. Until you have an eye on it and see who can come up to replace, this will keep happening. I don’t know how we are going to get out of this situation," he said.
Aaqib named three players who can strengthen Pakistan's middle-order, which was found wanting during the Asia Cup.
“You don’t want to give chances to those who can play. Shan (Masood) run kar-kar k paagal ho chuka hai (he has been piling up runs like mad) but you don’t want to play him. There are other players who deserve a place. Taiyaab Tahir is a good performer. Then there is Agha Salman, performing in white-ball cricket," he opined.
