'World Cup Jeetne Ke Liye Gadhe Ko...': Wasim Akram Lashes Out At Babar Azam After Zimbabwe Loss

Speaking to A Sports, where Shoaib Malik was also part of the panel, Wasim Akram lashed out at Babar Azam, saying had he been the captain, he would have even fought selectors to include Malik in team.

New Delhi: Babar Azam-led Pakistan cricket team suffered an absolute shocker on Thursday after underdogs Zimbabwe defeated them in Perth by just one run. This was Pakistan's second consecutive defeat in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022. After back-to-back loses, Pakistan's chances of making it to the semi-finals now depends on a lot of other factors, besides them winning their remaining games. Pakistan's former pacer Wasim Akram was visibly furious at skipper Babar Azam for team's outrageous outing in T20 World Cup as he questioned veteran middle-order batter Shoaib Malik's absence from the marquee event.

Pakistan played T20 series against New Zealand and England ahead of T20 World Cup. The series pointed out that Pakistan's middle-order was a major concern for them as their 3-6 number batters were not being able to deliver, eventually putting enormous pressure on openers.

Senior batter Shoaib Malik's return to national team for T20 World Cup was expected to solve Pakistan's middle-order woes. Fans and experts had expected the Pak veteran to make comeback, but PCB stunned everyone by naming a Shoaib Malik-less Pakistan team for T20 World Cup in Australia.

Speaking to A Sports, where Malik was also part of the panel, Akram lashed out at Babar Azam, saying had he been the captain, he would have even fought the selectors to include Malik in Pakistan's World Cup team.

“Ek saal se Pakistan, including us (Malik, Waqar Younis and Misbah ul Haq) knew that middle order slightly weak hai. Ab yeh ladka baitha hai Shoaib Malik. Main agar captain hota, mera end goal kya hota...to win the World Cup. Agar usskeliye mujhe gadhe ko bhi baap banana pare main banaunga beacuse mujhe World Cup jeetna hain. Agar mujhe Shoaib Malik chaiye toh main chairman and selector ko jaake kahunga ki I will not play World Cup if I don't get my player. But aisa koi hain nehin. Babar ko aur akalmand hona parega. Yeh woh moholle ki team nehin hai ki mera jaanne wala aa jayega. Agar main hota toh iss ladke ko (Malik) sabse pehle middle order main leta,” Wasim Akram said.

Pakistan is slated to play their next T20 World Cup match against Netherlands on October 30 at Perth.