In a major shakeup within Pakistan cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) new selection committee, which now includes former cricketers Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed, and Azhar Ali, made a bold move on Sunday by dropping former captain Babar Azam along with pace bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah for the second and third Test matches against England. This decision stirred significant debate across social media platforms.
Babar, who was present in Multan on Sunday, was seen in conversations with his teammates while evaluating the pitch. A video shared by ‘Events & Happenings Sports’ on YouTube went viral on X (formerly Twitter), showing a visibly upset Babar Azam being comforted by head coach Jason Gillespie, assistant coach Azhar Mahmood, and captain Shan Masood in the Pakistan dugout. The video, although lacking audio, depicted Babar looking confused and frustrated during the conversation.
Criticism of the PCB’s Selection Decision
The PCB justified its decision by stating that the selection was based on the current form and fitness of the key players. Despite this explanation, many on social media criticized the move, especially in light of the fact that both Masood and Gillespie had earlier called for consistency in selection, even amidst a string of defeats, including a devastating home whitewash against Bangladesh in August.
Aaqib Javed, one of the selectors, addressed Babar’s exclusion, though he did not mention him directly. He explained that the players were dropped due to their recent struggles with form. Babar Azam, who last scored a half-century in December 2022 during a Test match against England in Karachi (where he made 161), has been experiencing a significant dip in form. In his last 18 Test innings, he accumulated only 366 runs at an average of 20.33 without crossing the fifty-run mark.
PCB’s Support and Hope for a Strong Return
Javed further elaborated on the decision, expressing confidence that this break from international cricket would be beneficial for the players. “This time away will help them regain their fitness, confidence, and composure, allowing them to come back stronger for future challenges,” he said. He also emphasized that Babar, Shaheen, and Naseem remain among the country’s top talents and that the board is fully committed to supporting them during this phase.
The move to drop such high-profile players has put Pakistan’s new selection committee under scrutiny, as fans and experts alike question the timing and reasoning behind this significant decision.
