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Pakistan‘s journey in the ODI World Cup 2023 have proven to be a bitter disappointment as they managed to secure victory in only four out of their nine league-stage fixtures, ultimately failing to qualify for the semifinals. The Green team’s lacklustre performance throughout the tournament raised eyebrows and drew widespread criticism from fans, analysts, and cricket enthusiasts alike.
Skipper Babar Azam, in particular, found himself under heavy scrutiny for his leadership on the field. The 1992 World Cup champions’ inability to spark any charm or display consistent form throughout the ongoing World Cup edition became a focal point of disappointment, leaving the cricketing fraternity questioning the strategies and execution of the side.
Adding more to these verbal attacks, veteran Shahid Afridi has also opened up on Babar’s captaincy and gave some scathing remarks on the leadership abilities of the right-handed batter.
Shahid Afridi’s love for Babar Azam
Afridi expressed his admiration for Babar, considering him a significant player akin to a younger brother. He conveyed his desire for the southpaw to join the ranks of top cricket captains globally, highlighting the Lahore-born cricketer’s four-year captaincy tenure that went without any pressure of uncertainty and further emphasized the collective support extended to him throughout this period.
“I’m a fan of Babar. Babar is a big player, for me he is like a younger brother. I wanted that Babar join the list of top captains in the world. He’s been captain since four years or so, there was never a sword hanging over his head. We all supported him during this phase,” Afridi said at an event in Karachi.
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‘We have seen plenty of errors during the World Cup’: Afridi
The former Pakistan skipper voiced his disappointment over Babar’s leadership skills, stating that he expected improvement and transformation of the 29-year-old into a skilled leader but the latter did not materialize over the three to four years.
Afridi cited numerous errors witnessed during the ODI World Cup 2023 as evidence of Babar’s inability to prove himself as an effective captain during this period.
“We thought in three-four years he would be well groomed to handle the responsibility as a captain. He would mould himself as a captain. But this didn’t happen. He could not improve in this period and could not prove himself as a good leader. We have seen plenty of errors during the World Cup,” the 46-year-old added.
