(AP Photo)
Ex-Pakistan cricketer Imam ul Haq engaged in a discussion with Ahmed Shehzad regarding Babar Azam’s captaincy and the performance of their national team at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
“We have played for Pakistan for a long time. You can criticise and you have the right to do so. We all are not happy that Pakistan lost to India but please do not forget, one should not forget about respecting the players. he is your captain, remove him or not in the future, he is currently the leader of the side. If you don’t consider him ‘King’ or not, it doesn’t matter because the world calls him that. Nothing you say makes a difference in the end,” Imam ul Haq said on Geo TV’s chat show.
“If the matter of respect is coming up for Azam Khan, with people saying don’t body shame him, it should also be the same for Babar. He is a Pakistani player only,” he added.
Earlier last week, Ahmed Shehzad criticized Babar Azam for his performances while representing Pakistan.
“It will be morning if I start talking about their (Pakistan cricketers) discipline. But we have never said anything to anybody, but we surely talk about cricket. If you say you are a prime player, if you say no one is bigger than you, then win the World Cup. You’ve got five tournaments. And the way they are taking these things, we have to tell to everybody,” he had said.
Pakistan’s hopes of progressing in the 2024 T20 World Cup are hanging by a thread as they teeter on the edge of elimination in the group stage. Their journey began with a humiliating defeat in a Super Over against hosts USA, followed by a narrow loss to arch-rivals India by 6 runs.
After facing setbacks, the team led by Babar Azam managed to recover with a crucial 7-wicket victory against Canada. However, to keep their hopes alive in the tournament, they must secure a comprehensive win against Ireland in their final game and rely on other results to fall in their favor.
