Former England captain Michael Vaughan was left baffled by Pakistan selectors’ decision to drop an out-of-form Babar Azam from the second and third Test against England. Vaughan called it an ‘absolute stupid decision’ to let go of their ‘best player’.
Vaughan took to X and wrote: “So Pakistan haven’t won in a while .. Go 1 nil down in the series and decide to drop the best player in @babarazam258 .. I guess Pakistan cricket is full of surprises but this tops the lot .. absolutely stupid decision .. unless he has asked for a break !!!”
Babar hasn’t scored a fifty in last 18 innings in Test cricket. His last fifty-plus score came in December 2022 when he scored 161 against New Zealand in Karachi. In the first Test against England at Multan Cricket Stadium on a batting paradise of a wicket, Babar registered scores of 30 and 5. In the first innings he got out lbw to Chris Woakes. Under pressure in the second innings, he edged one to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith off Gus Atkinson’s bowling.
Babar got support from former Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar who backed him to make a comeback.
“This too shall pass, Stay strong Babar Azam Beta. This has been happening in anybody's career, you will bounce back INSHAHALLAH,” Anwar wrote on X.
Not just Babar, underfire pacers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah were dropped the squad as well. Also, veteran wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed was dropped without getting a chance in the series against Bangladesh and England. Out-of-favour Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali backed his teammates to overcome the tough times as well.
Hasan wrote on X: “Tough times only make comebacks sweeter! My brothers, you're champions! You've done wonders for Pakistan and will continue do so. Keep believing and you'll be back stronger than ever, Inshallah!”
The second Test in Multan will commence on October 15. England are yet to confirm whether Ben Stokes will return for the second Test or not.
Pakistan's Test squad:
Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha and Zahid Mahmood.
