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Former Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel has launched a scathing attack on Pakistan captain Babar Azam, calling him “selfish” following their disappointing performance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Pakistan’s campaign ended abruptly as they were eliminated from the group stage. This came despite Babar’s reinstatement as captain before the tournament.
Patel pointed to Babar’s batting position changes as a sign of his self-interest. During the New Zealand series, Saim Ayub opened alongside Mohammad Rizwan, pushing Babar down to number 3. However, Babar reclaimed the opening slot before the World Cup, displacing Fakhar Zaman.
“The captain wanted to open, so Zaman had to bat lower down. When the captain is selfish, there is no chance,” Patel remarked.
Patel’s criticism echoed comments from Pakistani legends Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis who had previously raised concerns about the team’s strategy.
Beyond leadership issues, Patel believes Pakistan lacks players suited for the T20 format. “They don’t have good players,” he said. “The strike rates of modern batsmen are 150-160, but Pakistan is stuck in the 120s. They are far behind other international teams.”
Pakistan’s struggles culminated in a shocking loss to the USA, further highlighting their captain’s shortcomings under pressure. Babar’s leadership and the team’s overall performance are sure to be a major talking point in the coming weeks.
