Former Pakistan chief selector Mohammad Wasim has disclosed that white-ball captain Babar Azam's stubbornness hindered his ability to implement significant changes within the team. Pakistan cricket are currently facing a challenging period, marked by underperformance in various formats. The troubles began with their disappointing campaign in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, where Babar Azam-led side failed to advance to the semi-finals. The situation deteriorated further in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they were eliminated from the group stage after a surprising loss to the non-Test playing nation, USA. The recent Test defeat to Bangladesh proved to be the final blow, prompting the PCB to make major decisions, including dropping Shaheen Shah Afridi from the playing XI in the second match of the series.
Pakistan are now on currently verge of losing the second Test match as well. Bangladesh need 143 runs to white wash the series for the first time in history of Test cricket. Former PCB chief selector Wasim said he tried hard to convince Babar to make some changes in the team, but the skipper was very stubborn and didn't allow it to happen.
"It was painful to make him understand the advantages of changes. He was very stubborn, and I overstepped my limitations to get him on board with certain calls. He was not ready to accept changes," Wasim told a local sports platform (via Cricket Pakistan) quoted by Hindustan times.
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He also revealed that four coaches said that there is a group of players who are cancer to the team. He tried to remove them but it was management who recalled them.
"I will not take names, but four coaches said that a group of players is cancer to the team. If they are part of the squad, Pakistan can’t win. I tried to remove them from the team, but the team management recalled them," he added.
Imad Wasim's injury
"Imad has a knee injury, but he has been hiding it for years. We always speak about Azam Khan’s fitness levels, but Imad is also suffering from the same problem. He was dropped from the side for that same reason, and I also dropped him during my tenure so that he could work on his fitness," Mohammad Wasim said in the same interview.
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