Pakistan have had a poor start to the T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, losing back-to-back games in the group stage. This has put them on the verge of elimination from the tournament.
Pakistan needs to finish in the top two of Group A to qualify for the Super Eight stage, however, they are currently sitting on zero points with 2 games in hand, while India and USA already have 4 points after winning back-to-back games.
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As a consequence of the team's performances and following their loss against arch-rivals India, Pakistan captain Babar Azam has come under criticism from former players, including Shoaib Malik, who said that Babar should quit T20I captaincy.
On the other hand, Mohammad Younus came to Babar's defence, comparing his captaincy to that of World Cup winner, Imran Khan, saying that he should continue to be backed as Pakistan captain.
What did Shoaib Malik say about Babar Azam's captaincy during T20 World Cup 2024?
Following Pakistan's 6-run defeat against India in New York, former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik criticised captain Babar Azam and suggested that he should step down from captaincy saying that a world-class player like him should not have added responsibilities.
"I have been saying for a long time, please leave captaincy. You are a class player, and you will only be able to show your class when you do not have additional responsibilities on you. If Babar stays away from captaincy, it will be good for him," Malik said.
He was speaking on the Ten Sports Pakistan channel, where he went on to question Babar's tactical acumen during the 120-target chase against India. Further, he went on to add that the core of Pakistan's T20I team should be removed.
"People keep talking about Babar and Rizwan's strike rates, so you brought in Saim Ayub. Yesterday, it was a 120 chase, why were you trying to improve your strike rate yesterday? The platform was set in every manner. If as a leader and a batter, your brain does not kick-in, in these kinds of situations, when will it? I am forced to say today that the core of this team, in the T20I format, I think we have to stop backing them."
How did Mohammad Yousuf come to Babar Azam's defence as Pakistan captain?
Former cricketer Mohammad Yousuf leaped to the Babar Azam's defence when he was speaking on Samaa TV which was in reply to Shoaib Malik's statement asking Babar to step down from T20I captaincy.
Yousuf made it clear that such statements against the captain should not be entertained, especially when the World Cup tournament is still ongoing.
He justified his defence of Babar saying that even legendary Pakistan captain Imran Khan needed to be backed for 12 years, before he won the World Cup for his team.
"Noone should be talking about this especially during a World Cup. Imran [Khan] bhai was captain in 1983, 1987 - he did not win, but in 1992, he won the World Cup. You should allow a good player to continue captaincy."
Yousuf suggested that former players and fans should know that Babar Azam is picked in the team due to his ability and not as a result of favours or recommendations.
He added that such talks will only demotivate the team and put more pressure on the captain than there already is, following the loss against India, saying:
"Babar has come into the team based on his ability, not by someone else's recommendation. He is a genuine captaincy material. It is wrong to talk about someone like this - it is a loss only for Pakistan, and even he is under huge pressure now after losing to India."
Pakistan must win their next two matches by big margins, to keep their slim hopes alive in the tournament. They will next play Canada at New York, on June 11 and then against Ireland at Lauderhill, Florida, on June 16, for their final game of the group stage.
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