Pakistan captain Babar Azam had a frustrating match against the USA as his side opened their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign with a loss. The veteran batter was left angry by Pakistan’s display and did not mince words during the post-match presentation at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas, Texas on Thursday, June 6 as well. However, Babar Azam was critical of his team’s performance across all departments, and his post-match comments made headlines.
“First six overs, we couldn’t capitalise. After that we picked up momentum, but lost wickets in flurry which was a set back and also couldn’t put up partnerships at crucial junctures. We weren’t up to the mark in the first six overs with the ball. We tried to come back, but we couldn’t’ finish,” Babar Azam said post the defeat.
Karthik added that even if things are far from ideal, a leader has to present himself in a way that shows otherwise. He stated that being completely candid and attacking his own players is not the way a leader should behave.
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“As a leader, you have to find ways to be diplomatic in press conferences and post-match ceremonies. Somehow, find a way to back your players. Inside the four walls, in the dressing room, you can say what you want and have a go at a few people, but you need to find a way to back those players,” Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz. “It is one thing being honest, but it also one thing trying to understand what the dynamics of your team are. He is just newly-appointed as a captain, a lot of the players are vulnerable right now, he needs to be saying things like, ‘Yes, it was a bad day, we could have probably done somethings better;. That is the kind of language to be used. But to say that we played badly and lost to many wickets, it is firstly stating the obvious, and secondly, if any Pakistan player reads it, which they will be, it feels like he is letting you down.”
However, Dinesh Karthik also commented on Babar Azam’s body language on the field and opined that losing his temper will not help the team in any way. Notably, Pakistan lost the game in the Super Over.
“The way he has conducted himself on the field, where he is having a go at the bowlers when boundaries go, is not a sign of a good leader. Showing disappointment is fine, but there is a way to show it, where the players do not get more nervous than they are already on the field. One of their key performers is Shadab Khan, and for about a year now, he has really struggled with form. He has not got his bowling to where he would ideally like it to be. Add Shaheen Afridi to the mix as well, who is always a good bowler, but with all the turmoil that happens thanks to the board, I think they have been a really unsettled as a unit and the results are showing,” Dinesh Karthik concluded.
