Babar Azam Exclusion Sparks Debate, Saeed Ajam Criticizes PCB
The PCB's decision to drop Babar Azam has been met with criticism from former cricketers, with Saeed Ajmal arguing that the board should have managed his workload instead of excluding him, and that the team's approach to player management needs to be re-evaluated to support players through phases of lower form.
Former Pakistan cricketer Saeed Ajmal has strongly criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for dropping star batter Babar Azam from the T20I squad for the series against New Zealand, arguing that the decision sends a negative message to other players and is a form of degradation.
Ajmal believes that players experience phases of lower form and that the team management and board should provide support rather than immediate exclusion. He suggests a more constructive approach, advocating for selectors to engage in direct dialogue with Babar to discuss his challenges and concerns, enabling him to return to the team stronger. Ajmal also compared Babar's batting style to Virat Kohli's, saying that Kohli's success is built on a foundation of calculated batting, and that Babar and Rizwan are great players who don't need to bat aggressively to score runs.
The former cricketer defended Babar, saying that even Sachin Tendulkar had bad patches, and that the PCB should have managed Babar's workload instead of dropping him. He urged former cricketers to stop unnecessary criticism and warned the PCB against disrespecting Babar. Ajmal also criticized the PCB's handling of the situation, saying that removing Babar and Mohammad Rizwan was not the right approach, and compared their strike rates to Virat Kohli's approach, saying that proven match-winners don't need aggression.
The controversy surrounding Babar Azam's exclusion has sparked a debate about the PCB's handling of player management and the importance of supporting players through phases of lower form. As the cricket community continues to discuss the issue, the PCB's decision is likely to have significant implications for the team's performance and morale.
