Australian Test opener Usman Khawaja has voiced his support for Pakistan’s white-ball captain, Babar Azam after the Green Shirts’ disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup 2024.
Babar Azam has been facing intense criticism following his side’s failure to advance to the Super 8 stage of the 20-team event. However, Khawaja, speaking at an event in Melbourne, firmly backed Babar’s leadership.
“It’s Babar Azam’s decision to captain if he can, he should,” Khawaja stated.
The Pakistan-born Australian also highlighted the ongoing instability within Pakistan cricket, which he believes hampers the players’ performance. “When I look from the outside, changes are constant in Pakistan cricket. The selection committee, staff, and players keep changing,” Khawaja observed.
Khawaja stressed that stability is crucial for any team’s success. “Such a situation is difficult because stability is very important. When there is no stability, it is difficult for players to perform. Pakistan cricket team never sees stability,” he added.
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign got off to a disastrous start with a shocking Super Over loss to the co-host United States of America (USA). This was followed by a heartbreaking defeat to arch-rivals India at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 9.
These consecutive defeats left Pakistan on the brink of elimination. Despite bouncing back with victories over Canada and Ireland, they failed to secure a spot in the Super 8 stage.
Usman Khawaja’s support for Babar Azam comes at a crucial time, as the team and its fans grapple with this disappointing outcome. His call for stability echoes a sentiment many in the cricketing world share.
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