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Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali has rallied behind Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan’s white-ball team, amidst mounting criticism following the team’s lackluster performances. Hasan Ali defended Babar Azam, highlighting that except for the ODI World Cup 2023, Babar has consistently delivered in recent ICC tournaments.
The scrutiny intensified after Pakistan’s premature exit from the T20 World Cup 2024, where unexpected defeats to the USA and India dashed their hopes of progressing beyond the group stage. Despite finishing with victories in their final two matches, Pakistan fell short of advancing to the Super Eight phase.
The Pakistan Cricket Board’s chief, Mohsin Naqvi, underscored the necessity for significant reforms within the cricket framework, signaling changes such as the removal of former players Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from the selection committee. Amidst the upheaval, uncertainty looms over Babar Azam’s future as the leader of Pakistan’s white-ball squad.
Babar Azam Is The King Of Pakistan’s Batting Lineup – Hasan Ali
In a conversation with Cricket Pakistan, Hasan Ali hailed Babar Azam as the linchpin of the batting order, affectionately referring to him as the “king.” Hasan underscored Babar’s ongoing development as a player, highlighting his consistent delivery of solid performances. He noted that aside from the ODI World Cup 2023, where Babar didn’t notch a century, the skipper has consistently impressed on the international stage.
“He is the king of Pakistan’s batting lineup, and he should improve. I should improve; everyone should improve. And you can see that he has also improved. It’s not like he hasn’t done it. Wherever he has performed in batting, I don’t think he has given a bad performance anywhere, except in India in the recent World Cup, where he didn’t score a century,” Hasan said.
Babar Azam made his debut appearance in India during the ODI World Cup 2023, showcasing his prowess by emerging as Pakistan’s third-highest scorer. Across nine matches, he accumulated 320 runs at an impressive average of 40, which included four half-centuries. Despite his notable contributions, Babar couldn’t steer the team past the group stage, resulting in Pakistan’s premature exit from the 50-over tournament.
I Don’t Regret It – Hasan Ali
Hasan Ali expressed his aspiration to participate in the recent T20 World Cup 2024 held in the West Indies and the USA. He clarified that he harbors no regrets about the situation, emphasizing his commitment to playing only when he feels he can contribute effectively. Hasan further explained that the team management included him solely as a substitute for Haris Rauf.
“I don’t regret it. Obviously, I wanted to play, and I wanted to perform and play. I don’t want to play without performance, and it’s neither in my nature nor do I want to play that kind of cricket, and I never have. So I don’t regret it because the management had already told me that I was Haris Rauf’s replacement only for the Ireland and England tours. So when Haris gets fit, you will automatically be out.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a revamped selection committee comprising ex-cricketers Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq, alongside the team captain and head coach. This reshuffle comes ahead of Pakistan’s hosting of a crucial two-match Test series against Bangladesh in August, which forms a pivotal part of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
