Babar Azam’s Surprising Exclusion and Future in Pakistan Cricket
Former cricketer Basit Ali has expressed support for Babar Azam’s return to the Pakistan cricket team after being dropped for the second and third home Tests against England. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) restructured the selection committee following Pakistan’s significant loss in the opening Test. Babar, along with Sarfraz Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah, was excluded from the squad, sparking varied reactions from fans and experts.
Babar’s exclusion was unexpected, but some analysts anticipated it due to his recent performance, having not scored a fifty in 18 Test innings. Kamran Ghulam, who replaced Babar, impressed with a century on his Test debut, intensifying discussions about Babar’s return. Basit Ali, however, is confident that Babar will rejoin the team after the two Tests.
Besides Babar’s exclusion, the PCB faces the challenge of appointing a new white-ball captain. Basit Ali suggests Mohammad Rizwan or Salman Agha as potential candidates. Babar’s decision to step down from captaincy was to focus on his performance as a player. During his captaincy, he led Pakistan to the T20 World Cup semi-finals and final in 2021 and 2022. However, Pakistan’s performance declined, leading to his resignation and Shaheen Shah Afridi’s appointment as his successor. Babar was reinstated as captain before the T20 World Cup 2024, but after poor results, he stepped down again.
Doubts Revealed
Babar Azam -: Babar Azam is a famous cricketer from Pakistan. He is known for being one of the best batsmen in the world and has also been the captain of the Pakistan cricket team.
Tests -: In cricket, a Test match is a long format game that lasts up to five days. It is considered the most challenging and prestigious form of the game.
Basit Ali -: Basit Ali is a former Pakistani cricketer who played for the national team. He is now involved in cricket as a coach and commentator.
Kamran Ghulam -: Kamran Ghulam is a Pakistani cricketer who plays as a batsman. He was chosen to replace Babar Azam in the team for the Tests against England.
PCB -: PCB stands for Pakistan Cricket Board. It is the organization responsible for managing cricket in Pakistan, including selecting players for the national team.
White-ball captain -: In cricket, a white-ball captain leads the team in limited-overs formats like One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 (T20) matches, which use a white cricket ball.
Mohammad Rizwan -: Mohammad Rizwan is a Pakistani cricketer who plays as a wicketkeeper-batsman. He is known for his excellent performances in recent matches.
Salman Agha -: Salman Agha is a Pakistani cricketer who is considered a potential candidate for the captaincy of the white-ball team.
