Former Pakistani star spinner Saeed Ajmal isn't happy with Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to exclude Babar Azam from the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand which is set to start from March 16. Not just Babar, even Mohammad Rizwan is also omitted from the Pakistan's T20I squad following their underperformance in the recent ICC Champions Trophy. While both players boast impressive T20I records, their strike rate has been a consistent point of contention for the national team.
Former Pakistan's World no.1 bowler Ajmal's criticism was particularly sharp, as he condemned the PCB's action, arguing that Pakistan should not diminish the stature of its star players. He said that such a move could be seen as a form of degradation and expressed concern over the message it sends to key members of the team.
“Aapke paas ek hi toh star hai (You have only one star). If you degrade him also, then how will your cricket run? These are the big issues. Our former cricketers should keep their mouths shut,” Ajmal said, as quoted by Times Now.
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Ajmal stated the natural ebb and flow of a player's performance, stating that every athlete inevitably experiences periods of lower form. He argued that these phases of struggle are an inherent part of a sporting career and should be met with understanding rather than immediate exclusion.Moreover, Ajmal also stressed on the importance of unwavering support from both the team management and the cricket board during these challenging times. He advocated for a nurturing environment where players feel confident that their struggles will be met with constructive assistance, rather than punitive measures. He believes that such support is crucial for players to regain their confidence and return to their peak performance.
“As a cricketer, one must realise that bad patches are part of a player’s career. You can’t play cricket the same way all your life. Even if you were Sachin Tendulkar, you couldn’t score 100 runs in every match,” he added.
Pakistan's recent T20 International performance has been notably inconsistent, marked by a string of series losses. The team has suffered defeats in three out of their last four series, with their sole victory coming against Zimbabwe. This underwhelming performance was further compounded by their early exit from the T20 World Cup, where they faced unexpected losses to both the USA and India.
Ajmal addressed this broader team performance, asserting that Babar Azam was not the sole underperformer. He pointed out that many other players also failed to deliver, pointing at a systemic issue rather than an individual one. Ajmal suggested a more constructive approach, advocating for the selectors to engage in direct dialogue with Babar. He believes that a collaborative discussion about the team's challenges and Babar's specific concerns would be far more beneficial, enabling him to address the issues and return to the team stronger.
“Look, the way you’ve removed them is wrong. It’s not like they are the only ones who haven’t scored while others have. That’s not the case. Ideally, the selectors should sit down with Babar and discuss rest so that he can come back stronger,” Ajmal further said.
To further illustrate his point, Ajmal drew a comparison with Virat Kohli. He said that Kohli's success is built upon a foundation of calculated batting, demonstrating that a measured approach can be equally, if not more, effective.
“Babar and Rizwan are great players. Their stats are as good as anyone’s, but the only difference is that they don’t bat aggressively, but they still score runs. Our guys have suddenly realised that in international cricket, everyone plays aggressively. Come on, what aggression are we talking about? If they are your proven matchwinners, you don’t need aggression. Even legends like Virat often pace their innings slowly before attacking, that’s his style,” Ajmal concluded.
Pakistan's T20I squad for New Zealand series:
Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Haris, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousaf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim and Usman Khan.
Full schedule for New Zealand vs Pakistan's white-ball series:
1st T20I – 16 March, Christchurch
2nd T20I – 18 March, Dunedin
3rd T20I – 21 March, Auckland
4th T20I – 23 March, Mount Maunganui
5th T20I – 26 March, Wellington
1st ODI – 29 March, Napier
2nd ODI – 2 April, Hamilton
3rd ODI – 5 April, Mount Maunganui