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Former Pakistan cricketer Saeed Ajmal has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for dropping Babar Azam from the squad for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. The five-match series will begin on Sunday.
Babar has faced mounting criticism due to his recent performances across formats, including the ongoing ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. He has scored only 87 runs in two innings at an average of 43.50. With growing discussions about his place in the team, selectors decided to exclude him from the New Zealand series.
Ajmal strongly opposed the decision, warning the PCB against disrespecting Babar and urging former cricketers to stop unnecessary criticism.
“You have only one star. If you degrade him also, then how will your cricket run? These are the big issues. Our former cricketers should keep their mouths shut,” Ajmal said in an interview with an Indian sports magazine.
Defending Babar, Ajmal emphasised that all players experience bad patches. He cited Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar as an example, stating that even he couldn’t score in every match.
Read more: Babar Azam as an Opener? A Bold Call or a Risky Gamble?
“As a cricketer, one must realise that bad patches are part of a player’s career. You can’t play cricket the same way all your life. Even if you were Tendulkar, you couldn’t score 100 in every match,” he said.
Ajmal also criticised the PCB’s handling of the situation, arguing that Babar and white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan should have received proper guidance instead of being removed.
“The way you’ve removed them is wrong. They aren’t the only ones who haven’t scored,” he said. “Ideally, the selectors should sit with Babar and discuss his workload, so he can come back stronger.”
He dismissed concerns over Babar and Rizwan’s strike rates, comparing them to Virat Kohli’s playing style.
“Come on, what aggression are we talking about? If they are your proven match-winners, you don’t need aggression. Even legends like Virat often pace their innings before attacking—that’s his style,” Ajmal concluded.
Pakistan Cricketers Fined for Disciplinary Breaches
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has fined several players for breaching the code of conduct during recent home and away series, with pacer Aamer Jamal receiving the heaviest penalty. The board clarified that these disciplinary matters remain internal.
According to sources, players have collectively paid fines exceeding PKR 3 million for various violations during the home series against England and the away series against South Africa.
Aamer Jamal received the largest fine of approximately PKR 1.3 million after wearing a cap with a political slogan during an interview in the England series.
During the series in Australia, team management penalised three players with fines of PKR 500,000 each for returning late to the hotel.
In South Africa, Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, and Abbas Afridi violated the team curfew and faced disciplinary action.
The PCB stated that it does not publicly disclose disciplinary issues to protect players’ reputations. Like other cricket boards worldwide, the PCB keeps such matters private to avoid unnecessary controversy.
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