Former Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has strongly criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for leaving out star batter Babar Azam from the squad for the upcoming T20I sequence towards New Zealand. The five-match sequence, which is ready to start on March 16, will see Pakistan taking over a formidable Black Caps with out their most skilled batter.
Babar’s current performances throughout codecs have come beneath scrutiny, notably within the ongoing ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. Regardless of scoring 87 runs in two innings at a median of 43.50, his kind has been questioned, main the selectors to make the daring resolution of excluding him from the squad. This transfer has sparked vital debate amongst cricket analysts and former gamers.
“Respect your high participant”: Saeed Ajmal warns PCB
Ajmal didn’t maintain again in his criticism of the PCB, calling the choice unfair and disrespectful to one in every of Pakistan’s most interesting cricketers. He cautioned the board towards undervaluing Babar’s contributions and urged former gamers to chorus from pointless destructive remarks.
“You’ve got just one star participant. When you convey him down, how will Pakistan cricket progress? These are the true points we must be discussing. Our former cricketers ought to cease making pointless feedback and help the crew as an alternative,” Ajmal mentioned as quoted by CricketPakistan.
He additional questioned the logic behind dropping Babar, stating that a number of below-par performances shouldn’t outline a participant’s price. He emphasised that quite than axing a world-class batter, the board ought to again him and supply confidence throughout powerful instances.
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Comparability to Sachin Tendulkar
Ajmal defended Babar by highlighting that every one nice gamers undergo tough patches of their careers. He referenced Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar, stating that even the perfect within the sport can’t preserve peak kind always.
“Each cricketer faces ups and downs of their profession. You can’t count on somebody to carry out the identical method all through their taking part in days. Even Tendulkar couldn’t rating a century in each sport, but India at all times backed him as a result of they knew his true potential,” Ajmal acknowledged.
He additional identified that Pakistan’s batting lineup lacks stability, and dropping an skilled participant like Babar might do extra hurt than good.
