In a shocking decision that has sent ripples through the cricketing community, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the exclusion of captain Babar Azam from the squad for the upcoming two Test matches against England. The decision follows Pakistan's disheartening loss in the first Test of the series, where they were defeated by an innings and 47 runs. Babar's omission, along with fellow cricketers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, has sparked outrage, particularly from his teammates.
Opener Fakhar Zaman took to Twitter to express his discontent, drawing a parallel between Babar's situation and that of Indian cricket star Virat Kohli. Zaman questioned the PCB's decision-making, highlighting that Kohli maintained his place in the Indian team despite struggling with poor form, averaging just 19.33, 28.21, and 26.50 from 2020 to 2023. "It is alarming to hear the advice to drop Babar Azam," Zaman tweeted. "If we are considering sidelining our premier batsman, arguably the best Pakistan has ever produced, this decision can send a negative message to the team. There's still time to avoid hitting the panic button.
Instead of underestimating our key players, we should give them a chance." Babar Azam is currently facing one of the toughest phases of his career, having failed to score a half-century in his last 18 Test innings. His struggles have also reflected in limited overs cricket, leading to his decision to step down as captain of the limited overs format prior to the Test series against England. However, being dropped from the Test squad has come as an unexpected shock to both Babar and his supporters. As the cricketing world watches closely, the PCB has confirmed the squad for the second and third Tests against England, which includes Shan Masood as captain and Saud Shakeel as vice-captain.
The full squad features: Amir Jamal, Abdullah Shafiq, Hasibullah (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Saeem Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, and Zahid Mehmood. With Babar Azam's future now uncertain, the spotlight remains on the PCB as fans and analysts alike ponder the implications of this controversial decision and its potential impact on the morale of the Pakistani cricket team.
