Pakistan's all-rounder Imad Wasim shared his thoughts on the surprising reappointment of Babar Azam as the captain during the T20 World Cup 2024, in which the team suffered an early exit after shocking defeats to USA and India.
After Babar stepped down following a disappointing ODI World Cup in 2023, Shaheen Shah Afridi was appointed captain. However, after just one series, Babar was reinstated in the role for the T20 World Cup, which left many including Imad, surprised.
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How did Imad Wasim's react on Babar Azam's re-appointment as captain?
Imad Wasim openly admitted to being taken aback by the decision to reappoint Babar Azam as captain.
"Yes, I was surprised. What can I say? It’s ultimately the selector’s call. Everybody in Pakistan was surprised, not just me," he said.
Wasim highlighted that the decision was not his to question but acknowledged that the general public shared his surprise. Despite the captaincy change, Pakistan’s performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup was underwhelming.
The team lost to the United States and eventual champions India, and failed to qualify for the next round. Wasim admitted, "Our performance wasn’t up to the mark, to be honest, and we have to accept that, including myself."
During the World Cup, Wasim pointed out that Pakistan’s struggles could be attributed to a fear of failure among players. He said, "Our team is so good, but we haven’t tried to play without the fear of failure. Whether it’s batting, bowling, or fielding, this fear is holding us back."
Wasim believes that while personnel changes happen, what the team truly needs is a change in mindset. Let's take a look at Pakistan's, Babar and Wasim's record at the T20 World Cup 2024.
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Pakistan's win-loss record at T20 World Cup 2024
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Babar Azam's batting record at T20 World Cup 2024
| Player | Mat | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam | 4 | 122 | 44 | 40.66 | 101.66 | 0 |
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