‘I’ve heard that Babar Azam was crying after the defeat to Afghanistan, it’s not just his fault’: Mohammad Yousuf

“I saw the press conference and I noticed this the other day as well that he looked disturbed. I heard that Babar cried after the defeat against Afghanistan as well. It is not just Babar’s fault in the team’s defeat, it involves the entire team and management. We are with Babar in this difficult time and the whole country is with him,” he added.

Babar has faced flak for his captaincy skills and lack of big outings with the batting barring the two fifties from five World Cup games. Former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi also weighed in on the issue recently.

“When you are not in the game [not focused], then these things [fielding issues] will happen. When you are trying to hide somewhere, when you are not thinking positively, I think that at times we are waiting for miracles, miracles don’t just happen. They happen with brave men who know how to fight. It has happened in the past, when I was the captain or Mohammad Yousuf was, when we used to run in the ground and support players, then the entire team used to charge up. When Inzamam would dive during the field, then, believe me, we players used to feel ashamed that why are we not diving when the captain is. At the end of the day, everything comes right back to the captain,” Afridi had said.

Having started off the tournament with back-to-back wins against Netherlands and Sri Lanka, Pakistan have lost three matches in a row against India, Australia, and Afghanistan and face South Africa in a crucial game on Friday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday addressed on the scrutiny Babar and Co have faced and urged the former players and the fan base in Pakistan to rally behind their team, furthermore adding that the further course of action from the board shall only come based on the team’s overall performance at the marquee tournament.

“Addressing the media scrutiny directed at captain Babar Azam and the team management, the board’s stance, echoing that of former cricketers, is that successes and defeats are part of the game. Captain Babar Azam and Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq were given freedom and support in forming the squad for the ICC World Cup 2023,” said PCB in a statement.

“Looking ahead, the board will make decisions in the best interest of Pakistan cricket based on the team’s performances in the World Cup. At present, the PCB encourages fans, former players and stakeholders to rally behind the team as they strive to make a triumphant comeback in the mega-event. The PCB acknowledges the emotions and sentiments of cricket fans following the three consecutive defeats faced by the national team in the ICC World Cup 2023. In this challenging environment, the board administration hopes that the cricketing fraternity and fans will continue to support captain Babar Azam and the entire
Pakistan cricket team,” the board added.