Babar, Rizwan are not going to win Pakistan tournaments, says Aaqib Javed

Former Pakistan cricketer Aaqib Javed has lashed out against the opening pair of Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam.

Aaqib claimed that the Pakistan cricket team would not win any tournaments because of the duo dynamics.

"These two openers are not going to win you tournaments … Take the two openers [Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan], No.1 and No.2 players in the world. But such a player should know what to do. The vice-captain [Rizwan] plays for 15 overs – starts playing when the asking rate is 8 and leaves after taking it to 17! [in the Asia Cup final that Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka]," said Aaqib while talking to the reporters.

He further blamed the team selection committee, claiming that some players were forcibly removed while others were selected based on no conclusive evidence.

Aaqib added that Shoaib Malik was removed without an alternative and that Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, and Asif Ali all underperformed.

"Paanch saaal mey ghuma-ghuma ke [in 5 years] Iftiqhar Ahmed has come back 4 times. Same with Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah,” Aaqib said. “Until you have an eye on it (feeder system below the national teams) and see who can come up to replace, this will keep happening. I don’t know how we are going to get out of this situation," he added.