Former Indian cricketer labels Babar Azam 'selfish’

Former Indian cricketer turned commentator Parthiv Patel has strongly criticized Pakistan captain Babar Azam, labeling him as a "selfish player" and characterizing the Pakistan team as "weak."

In a recent interview, Patel lamented Pakistan's decline in cricketing prowess and expressed grave concerns about Babar's leadership. He asserted, "When your captain is selfish, then there is no chance."

Reflecting on Pakistan's cricketing history, Patel reminisced about past eras featuring legendary figures like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Mohammad Yousuf, and Saqlain Mushtaq. He contrasted this golden era with the current team, which he described as the weakest, primarily centered around Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

"They have a very weak team now. Look at the team they used to have."

"This is the weakest Pakistan team," Patel remarked. "They don't match the T20 format. In an era where strike rates of 150-160 are crucial, their players are stuck at 120."

Patel also criticized Babar's decision to bat lower down the order, a move he found perplexing in the context of contemporary cricket where many captains opt to open the innings themselves.

"Around the world, captains want to open the innings, but Babar prefers to play lower. When your captain does this, nothing can be achieved," he added.

Pakistan crashed out in the group stage of T20 World Cup 2024 after failing to secure victories in two out of four matches.