Former Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir has placed the blame for Pakistan’s recent cricket woes squarely on the shoulders of their captain, Babar Azam. Amir asserts that the essence of Pakistan’s cricket system remains sound, and it’s the mindset of the captain that needs to change. Amir drew a parallel to the impactful role played by former Indian skipper MS Dhoni in nurturing talent like Ravindra Jadeja.
Mohammad Amir emphasized the need for a captain to catalyze the growth of players, akin to Dhoni’s influence on Jadeja’s development. Amir didn’t hold back in his critique of the former PCB chief, Ramiz Raja, who advocates systemic change and supports Babar Azam’s captaincy.
The left-arm pacer pointed to the 1992 World Cup triumph under Imran Khan, emphasizing that the system then was unchanged. His stance was clear: the system isn’t the issue; it’s the mindset that needs adjustment, echoing his belief in maintaining continuity and leadership influence akin to the Khan era.
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“We say Dhoni changed India’s cricket, but he never changed the system. People kept saying that for how long will he keep giving Jadeja and Ashwin chances. And now we say Jadeja is the world’s best all-rounder. MS Dhoni has given them the team,” said Mohammad Amir on Haarana Mana Hay’s YouTube show.
“What is the system? It is not a wall. Five and six people have been given responsibility to run the Pakistan cricket. A captain is also one of them. In 1992 under Imran Khan, we won the World Cup, the system was same. In 1999 our team was a world beater, who reached the finals. We won the 2009 T20 World Cup with the same system, we won the 2017 Champions Trophy under same system,” he further continued.
The 31-year-old vividly recounted a pivotal moment in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, where the former Pakistan captain, Sarfaraz Khan, vigorously lobbied with coach Mickey Arthur to include him in the lineup, edging out Rumman Raees. Amir’s inspired new ball spell stifled India’s pursuit, rendering Hardik Pandya’s brilliance later in the innings futile.
Amir’s remarkable figures of 3 for 16 led Pakistan to a resounding 180-run victory, clinching the coveted Champions Trophy. “I missed the semifinal due to back spasms. Rumman Raees played and did well. In the final, Saifi bhai said no Amir is our main bowler, he is fit and he will play the final,” said Mohammad Amir.
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Amir’s comments have sparked a debate about the role of captaincy in Pakistan’s cricket fortunes. While some agree with his assessment that Babar Azam’s mindset is a factor, others believe that systemic changes are also needed. Only time will tell whether Amir’s words will lead to a change in Pakistan’s cricket leadership.
