Fakhar Zaman Defends Babar Azam Amidst Pakistan’s Squad Changes for England Tests
Fakhar Zaman, a Pakistani cricketer, has voiced his concerns over the decision to drop Babar Azam, a key player and former captain, from the squad for the upcoming Tests against England. Fakhar compared Babar’s current form to Indian cricketer Virat Kohli’s past struggles, emphasizing the importance of supporting top players during tough times.
Fakhar’s Concerns
Fakhar highlighted that India did not drop Virat Kohli during his lean phase from 2020 to 2023, when his performance dipped significantly. He urged the Pakistani team management to avoid making hasty decisions that could negatively impact team morale.
Babar’s Recent Performance
Babar Azam was excluded from the squad after scoring 30 and 5 in the first Test against England. His recent performance has been under scrutiny, with an average of 20.70 in his last 17 Test innings.
Changes in Pakistan’s Squad
The selection committee, led by Aqib Javed, made several changes to the squad following Pakistan’s defeat in the first Test. Alongside Babar, players like Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sarfaraz Ahmed were also rested. New players such as Haseebullah and Mehran Mumtaz have been included.
England’s Historic Win
In the first Test, England achieved a historic win by taking a first innings lead of over 200 runs after conceding more than 550 runs. This result placed England fourth in the World Test Championship standings, while Pakistan fell to the last position.
Upcoming Tests
The revised Pakistan squad for the second and third Tests includes Shan Masood as captain and Saud Shakeel as vice-captain, among other players.
Doubts Revealed
Fakhar Zaman -: Fakhar Zaman is a Pakistani cricketer known for his aggressive batting style. He plays for the national team and has been a key player in many matches.
Babar Azam -: Babar Azam is a famous Pakistani cricketer and the captain of the national team. He is known for his excellent batting skills and has been compared to other great players like Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli -: Virat Kohli is an Indian cricketer and one of the best batsmen in the world. He has faced ups and downs in his career, similar to what Babar Azam is experiencing now.
Aqib Javed -: Aqib Javed is a former Pakistani cricketer and now a cricket coach. He is part of the selection committee that decides which players are included in the national team.
Naseem Shah -: Naseem Shah is a young and talented fast bowler from Pakistan. He is known for his speed and has been rested for the England Tests.
Shaheen Shah Afridi -: Shaheen Shah Afridi is another fast bowler from Pakistan, famous for his ability to take wickets quickly. He is also being rested for the upcoming matches against England.
World Test Championship -: The World Test Championship is a tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to determine the best Test cricket team in the world. Teams earn points based on their performance in Test matches.