Shahid Afridi, a former cricket player, claimed on Monday that Babar Azam, the captain of the Green Shirts, hasn’t lived up to expectations or demonstrated his leadership and captaincy since taking on the crucial role. Fifth on the points chart, the Babar-led team was eliminated from the World Cup 2023 after losing five of their nine games, exhibiting a very lacklustre performance in each of the three categories.
Babar Faces Shahid Afridi Harsh Comments After Elimination
At a Karachi event, Afridi stated, “As much of a star Babar is as an individual player, it was my wish that he also makes his way in the list of the top [cricketing] captains.”
Surrounded by a number of former cricket players, including as Misbah Ul Haq, Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmanl, Saeed Ajmal, and Umar Gul, Afridi claimed that the 29-year-old batsman fell short of expectations as a leader.
“We thought that throughout his three to four years as captain, Babar would have developed and demonstrated his leadership and captaincy skills. However, this did not occur, as we have witnessed numerous errors [from him],” the former all-rounder stated, emphasising that the top batter’s position as captain was never in jeopardy during this period.
“A leader should be steadfast and must know how to lead the team […] a leader doesn’t have one or two [favourite] players” he added. while stressing that a leader must ensure consensus amongst his teammates.
“Younis Khan didn’t make unilateral decisions [during his captaincy], he used to take all of us in confidence and seek advice [regarding his decisions],” Afridi said while stressing that a leader must ensure consensus amongst his teammates. “A leader should have such qualities,” he concluded.
The right-hand hitter Babar has come under fire for Pakistan’s underwhelming World Cup performance and early exit from the massive competition. As another group of players, including Agha Salman, Imam-ul-Haq, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, arrived in Lahore from Kolkata via Dubai, some of them went directly to their hometowns, the team has been returning to the nation in groups.
