Shoaib Akhtar slams unjust treatment towards Babar Azam

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has expressed his strong disapproval over Babar Azam's resignation from national team's captaincy across all formats. 

While talking on a sports show, Akhtar criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board's handling of the situation, labeling the treatment towards Azam as unjust and hasty.

Speaking out on Babar's abrupt resignation, Akhtar emphasized that Babar, despite expressing his reluctance to captain all formats, should not have been swiftly ousted from leading the Test team. 

"The treatment with Babar Azam was unjust. I categorically say that in such a short time, he should not have been removed from the captaincy of Test matches. Even though he said he didn't want captaincy of all formats and the board was insisting on him captaining Test matches, he shouldn't have resigned, and he shouldn't have been pushed out," Akhtar said.

Akhtar further pointed out the lack of patience in the board's approach, suggesting that Azam should have been given a grace period of around 1.5 months without any official announcement or pressure. 

"They should have given him 1.5 months without saying a word, but the board didn't do that. We are experts in removing someone from their position and this is how the entire management of Pakistan works, just remove and banish," he further added.

The former cricketer expressed his dismay at the pattern of abrupt decisions within the management, asserting that such actions reflect a culture of unjust treatment towards players. 

"There has been injustice with Babar," Akhtar stated firmly.

Akhtar outlined a potential alternative strategy, expressing that if he were in a position of authority, he would have allowed Azam a grace period before implementing any changes, emphasizing the need for a more considered approach in such decisions.

"If I were there, I would have given him this month and then worked on a new strategy because now there will be talk of resolving the rift," he concluded.

Even Shoaib Akhtar has spoken Up for Babar Azam's unfair removal from Captaincy🙌♥️.#BabarAzam𓃵 #ShoaibAkthar pic.twitter.com/lVs1qsD2Kx

— Shaharyar Ejaz 🏏 (@SharyOfficial) November 18, 2023