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Michael Vaughan slams PCB for dropping Babar Azam. (Picture Credit: AFP and AP)
Babar Azam scored 30 and 5 runs for Pakistan in the first Test against England, which the hosts lost by an innings and 47 runs in Multan last week.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan, who has now donned the hat of an expert, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday (October 13) to blast Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after it dropped Babar Azam for the last two Tests of the ongoing three-match series against England. Babar, who has failed to score a fifty in his last 18 Test innings for Pakistan, got out after making 30 and 5 runs in the first Test against England, which Pakistan lost by an innings and 47 runs last week in Multan.
Surprised by Babar’s sacking, Vaughan said that Pakistan cricket is full of surprises, but the decision to drop the ‘best player’ when the team is 1-0 down in the series tops the list. According to him, it’s a stupid decision to drop Babar.
“So Pakistan haven’t won in a while… Go 1 nil down in the series and decide to drop the best player in @babarazam258. I guess Pakistan cricket is full of surprises, but this tops the lot.. absolutely stupid decision.. unless he has asked for a break !!!” Vaughan tweeted.
So Pakistan haven’t won in a while .. Go 1 nil down in the series and decide to drop the best player in @babarazam258 .. I guess Pakistan cricket is full of surprises but this tops the lot .. absolutely stupid decision .. unless he has asked for a break !!!— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 13, 2024
Apart from Babar, pacers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi and former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed are also ignored for the last two Tests, which are scheduled to take place in Multan and Rawalpindi.
As per the PCB release, “Taking into consideration the current form and fitness of key players and looking ahead to Pakistan’s future assignments in the 2024-25 international cricket season, the selectors have decided to give rest to Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shaheen Shah Afridi. Abrar Ahmed (who is recovering from dengue fever) was unavailable for selection.”
“The four players have been replaced by Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, Kamran Ghulam (all uncapped), fast bowler Mohammad Ali, and off-spinner Sajid Khan. Noman Ali and Zahid Mehmood, who were initially part of the original first Test squad but were subsequently released, have also been included in the 16-player squad.”
Pakistan’s squad for the last two Tests against England: Shan Masood (C), Saud Shakeel (VC), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, and Zahid Mehmood.
