Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has expressed deep dismay over ongoing issues in Pakistan cricket after the team made major changes to its squad on its Test tour of England, saying the team has become consistently negative. Azhar’s scathing attack came amid the severe fallout after heavy defeats at Headingley and Lord’s, which saw head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul being relieved of their duties and seven players sent home as well. While Shahid Afridi called it ‘the most shocking decision ever ‘, Misbah-ul-Haq resigned as a selector in protest.
“People used to say you could expect anything from Pakistan – that any team could turn up on any given day and either be 46 all out or win from nowhere. But we don’t even do that inconsistency any more. We’ve become totally consistent – in the most negative way. Cricket in Pakistan needs proper care and a vision that gives hope to a nation on the brink of losing their appetite. If we don’t pull our socks up, we won’t be able to bring people back. You cannot lose hope but the signs are not good,” Azhar was quoted as saying by The Guardian on Monday.
Azhar, who played 97 Tests, specifically slammed High Performance Director and senior selector Aaqib Javed for trying to distance himself from the squad’s poor performances as well.
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“We have had bad decisions like these for three years now. He should take responsibility for performances. His judgment should be questioned. I listened to his interview this week and he was trying to put the blame on Sarfaraz and Babar. He appointed them just a few months earlier! That was enough for me to judge someone. Every decision he makes backfires and he then says: ‘It’s not me.’ Look at yourself first. And if you cannot control this team, if you cannot make a difference to Pakistan cricket, then step away,” he further added.
Azhar Ali also sympathised with captain Babar Azam, who has struggled to score in recent years and to lead the side with unstable team management as well.
“It is probably the worst time to captain Pakistan right now,. He has to consider his options too, I believe. Every player goes through periods of low scores but as a nation we just kept expecting him to deliver and criticism followed. It has played on his mind and he has doubted himself, while lacking any internal support. I don’t think he is as mentally strong as Misbah or, say, Younis Khan. Misbah was not as talented as Babar but he was far tougher. Younis faced criticism but never lost his targets. Everyone is different though. We have to realise that and create an environment where he can flourish, not be pulled back,” he again added.
“We need a settled structure and one where people are hired and backed for three-to-four years. Right now the under-19s, for example, are leaderless. But that role is arguably more important than the head coach of the senior side. We know where this Test team is currently and have to accept that. But major work done by competent people in the pathway – that is how we come back. It’s not about quick fixes. We cannot change in the space of a year. That’s impossible. But four to five? I believe the talent is there to make it happen,” Azhar Ali concluded.
