Zaheer Abbas Calls for Babar Azam's Ouster from Team

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Updated on: October 16, 2024 6:12 am GMT

Cricket legend Zaheer Abbas has called for Babar Azam to be dropped from the Pakistan national team due to his poor form. This bold statement comes in the wake of Babar’s disappointing performance during the recent Test series against Bangladesh, where he struggled to score runs. Abbas’s remarks have ignited debate among cricket enthusiasts about the future of Pakistan’s skipper.

Abbas’s Criticism

During the Cricket Predicta Conclave in Ajman, UAE, Zaheer Abbas, who is often hailed as the “Asian Bradman,” expressed his concerns regarding Babar’s place in the team. “Babar Azam should be dropped from the team,” he asserted. “If he’s not scoring runs, because if he’s our main batsman and he’s out of form, he should be out of the team.” This statement reflects growing frustration over Babar’s performance.

Babar’s Recent Struggles

Babar Azam faced a challenging time during the recent two-match Test series against Bangladesh. His scores in four innings were:

This left him with a total of only 64 runs in the series, a statistic that contributed to his drop from the ICC top 10 batting rankings—a position he had maintained consistently for several years.

Impact of the World Cup

The scrutiny surrounding Babar intensified after Pakistan’s early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup. The team recorded losses against both the USA and India, failing to progress beyond the group stage. This underwhelming performance has heightened the critique of his captaincy, particularly in the white-ball format of the game.

Calls for Action

Abbas’s comments also hint at a broader issue within the team. There are increasing calls for a shift in leadership as Pakistan prepares for the upcoming tour of Australia in November. Reports suggest Babar’s captaincy might be under review, which adds pressure as the team approaches critical matches.

The Comparison with Virat Kohli

In a response to ongoing comparisons between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli, another icon of cricket, Abbas dismissed these notions as “baseless.” He stated, “The comparisons are pointless. Virat Kohli scores in every match, the other player (Babar) doesn’t score in any match, so then how can you compare? The person who scores is the bigger player.” This statement underscores the current disparity in their performances.

Looking Ahead for Pakistan

Pakistan’s cricket team is scheduled to face England next in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25. The first Test match will take place in Multan from October 7-11. The squad for this match features notable players, including Shan Masood as captain and Babar Azam himself. The lineup includes:

Shan Masood (captain)
Saud Shakeel (vice-captain)
Aamir Jamal
Abdullah Shafique
Abrar Ahmed
Babar Azam
Mir Hamza
Mohammad Huraira
Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper)
Naseem Shah
Noman Ali
Saim Ayub
Salman Ali Agha
Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper)
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Zahid Mehmood

This upcoming match is crucial for both Babar Azam and the overall performance of the Pakistan team, which aims to regain its competitive edge.

While Zaheer Abbas’s comments may be seen as harsh, they mirror the sentiments of many fans and analysts who expect high standards from their players. The coming weeks will determine whether Babar Azam can recover his form and lead his team effectively.

Babar Azam’s future on the Pakistan cricket team is uncertain right now. With a big series coming up, he really needs to show his skills. We will have to wait and see if he can prove he belongs among the best players or if the team needs to make a change.