Pakistan Cricket has made headlines with the unexpected decision to drop star batter Babar Azam from the team’s lineup for the upcoming Test match against England. This surprising move comes on the heels of Pakistan’s loss in the first Test in Multan, where the team struggled to gain momentum.
Babar Azam’s exclusion has ignited a wave of criticism from cricket experts and fans alike, with many questioning the logic behind dropping one of Pakistan’s most celebrated players. Among those baffled by the decision was former England cricketer Michael Vaughan. He took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his confusion, stating that unless Babar himself had requested time off, dropping him was a “stupid decision” by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
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Michael Vaughan highlighted Babar’s status as one of Pakistan’s best players, even though he is currently going through a rough patch of form. “Pakistan hasn’t won in a while… Go 1-0 down in the series and decide to drop the best player in Babar Azam. I guess Pakistan cricket is full of surprises, but this tops the lot,” 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
In addition to Babar, Pakistan also left out key players Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Sarfaraz Ahmed for the second Test. Aaqib Javed, a selection panel member, explained the decision by emphasizing the importance of giving these players a break. Javed pointed out that balancing current form with the need to bounce back in the series was difficult for the selectors. He also noted the demanding 2024-25 international schedule that awaits Pakistan.
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Javed expressed confidence that this break would benefit the players, helping them regain their fitness, confidence, and composure. He reassured fans that these players are still some of Pakistan’s finest talents, and the PCB remains committed to supporting them during this period to ensure they return stronger for future challenges.
