Criticism is healthy, allowing players to look and learn from their mistakes
29 October, 2022
PHOTO COURTESY: PCB
Criticising a player over a few bad performances is a norm in Pakistan cricket, with former cricketers, experts, and fans.
The Pakistan cricket team has been facing a lot since losing to Zimbabwe at Perth a few days back, making it hard for them to qualify for the next round.
The scrutiny surrounds Men in Green's inability to step up at the crucial moments as the results would have been in their favor - against India and also against Zimbabwe.
Skipper Babar Azam, who is regarded as the top batter across formats, has failed in both games. There has been advice for Babar Azam to bat at No.3 and allow the likes of Shan Masood or Haider Ali to open the innings with Mohammad Rizwan.
Criticism is healthy, allowing players to look and learn from their mistakes; however, speaking without facts and knowledge could reignite fun in this digital era where everything is at the fingertips.
Legendary Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram, who is working as an analyst on a local media sports show during the World Cup, revealed some inside news regarding Babar Azam as he is also the mentor of Karachi Kings, where the 28-year-old is the captain.
Sultan of Swing disclosed that Babar is not ready to make sacrifices as captain even in the franchise league and declined the offer to demote himself in the batting order.
"We had a couple of seasons, and I requested him once or twice nicely because he is the captain; maybe he can come at number 3, let Martin Guptill open."
"Let's try it since we're not performing. He said I won't go down. Then we had to send Sharjeel Khan at number 3, and he is a natural opener."
The statement given by the former captain is out of context and without facts; New Zealand's Martin Guptill played for Karachi Kings in PSL 6, where he never batted as an opener, while Imad Wasim was the captain of Karachi Kings in that edition.
Sharjeel Khan batted at No.3 this year, while England's Joe Clarke opened the innings with Babar in a few games.
There is no denying that Babar needs to bat at No.3 or lower down the order, as he is the best batter in the line-up. Still, when the whole cricketing world is listening to a stature like Wasim Akram, it must come out with proper knowledge and research as publications and fans are quick to grab the story.
