Babar Azam heavily criticized for not taking right decisions at crucial moments during the ongoing T20 World Cup. Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam adda up Shan Masood may be a better man for national leadership.
Intikhab says, “I already tells when PCB select Babar as a captain of the three formats that it is not the right decision. He has no leadership quality. Pakistan shows poor performance so far at the World Cup in Australia. The green-shirts lost their first two group-stage matches against arch-rivals India and Zimbabwe.
Read also: I’m still in awe of Zimbabwe’s win: Darren Sammy
Babar and Co. now lie at a poor fifth position in group 2 just above the Netherlands. Their position faces a lots of ifs and buts on a very tough route to the semi-finals.
With no points in the bag, Pakistan must win the remaining 3 group games. There is s hope that few other results come in their favour.
Intikab Alam-80 years old- says“It is dangerous for the team to excessively depends on the performance of openers Babar and Rizwan. If they fail to perform in a match, the team comes under pressure.”
Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup and the 2009 T20 World Cup under skipper Intikhab’s coaching.
He further remarks, “If you have cricketing sense then you should know how to go ahead. Babar lacks in monitoring the match situation and taking timely decisions.
Intikhab criticized the decision to ask under-pressure spinner Mohammad Nawaz to bowl the last over against India. He also says, it is the captain who should face the blame for this wrong call. He must know who should bowl when.
On who could replace Babar as skipper, Intikhab picks Shan Masood for the captaincy.
I personally feel, has the genes of captaincy at least for ODIs and T20 International,” he adds.
Meanwhile, Intikhab also criticize the PCB for not taking full advantage in the home series against England by not preparing fast pitches.
“Pakistan have been preparing for the World Cup for the last one year testing different [team] combinations. However ignoring the preparations, the PCB made slow and low-bounced pitches for the home series against England.
He also asserts, “and don’t tell me that we can’t make fast pitches. We can do it if we want such pitches.”
He says opener Fakhar Zaman and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi selected for World Cup squad while they not fully fit.
“Shaheen is not in his true rhythm. Had he been fully fit? he could completed the second run on the last ball of the match against Zimbabwe whose wicket-keeper could not gather the ball cleanly in the first attempt.”
“Pakistan also need nature’s help. None of their remaining group matches should be washed out, which looms large in this World Cup,” he adds.