KARACHI: Former Pakistan cricketer Saeed Ajmal has strongly criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for its decision to drop Babar Azam from the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. Ajmal believes that excluding the star batsman is a mistake and has urged PCB to handle players with more care instead of making abrupt decisions.
Babar Azam has been under scrutiny for his recent performances, particularly in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, where he managed to score just 87 runs in two innings at an average of 43.50. His struggles led to widespread criticism from fans and former cricketers, ultimately resulting in his omission from the T20I squad for the five-match series against New Zealand.
Ajmal Warns PCB Against ‘Degrading’ Babar Azam
Saeed Ajmal has strongly opposed PCB’s move, warning that degrading a world-class player like Babar could negatively impact Pakistan cricket. He also took a dig at former cricketers for constantly criticizing the team.
“You only have one star. If you degrade him as well, how will your cricket progress? Former cricketers should keep their mouths shut,” Ajmal said in an interview with an Indian sports magazine.
He further defended Babar Azam by comparing him to Sachin Tendulkar, stating that even the Indian legend couldn’t score runs in every match.
“Every cricketer goes through bad patches. You can’t maintain the same form throughout your career. Even Tendulkar couldn’t score a century in every game,” he added.
PCB Should Have Managed Workload Instead of Dropping Players
Ajmal also criticized the PCB for dropping both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan instead of managing their workloads. He believes the selectors should have had a discussion with them rather than making abrupt exclusions.
“The way you’ve removed them is wrong. They are not the only ones who have struggled with form. The selectors should have sat with Babar to discuss his workload and let him make a strong comeback,” he stated.
Ajmal Dismisses Concerns Over Strike Rates
Addressing criticism regarding Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s strike rates, Ajmal dismissed these concerns by using Virat Kohli as an example.
“What aggression are we talking about? If they are your proven matchwinners, you don’t need unnecessary aggression. Even players like Kohli take their time to settle before accelerating. That’s his style,” Ajmal concluded.
With the Pakistan vs. New Zealand T20I series starting on March 16, 2025, the debate around Babar Azam’s exclusion continues to divide opinions in the cricketing world.
