Pakistani batter Ahmed Shehzad took a jibe at Babar Azam while applauding New Zealand’s Kane Williamson for leaving white-ball captaincy after his team’s 2024 T20 World Cup exit. However, New Zealand faced a group-stage exit at the ongoing mega event. He also mentioned that Williamson’s stepping down from captaincy and opting out of the central contract were examples of a true leader.
Shehzad also added that Pakistan, on the other hand, has a weak captain who has often shied away from taking the blame for the team’s poor performances. Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, June 19, Shehzad wrote (translated from Urdu):
“Kane Williamson’s bold decision to step down from the limited overs captaincy after New Zealand’s poor performance in the World Cup. It is the characteristic of a true leader who is the first to accept blame and initiate accountability. He also refused New Zealand’s central contract, which would have left players fighting for a place in their domestic cricket. What an example set. New Zealand thrived under his leadership and remained very consistent in international competitions. One bad tournament and he quits.”
“On the other hand, we see captains who do not take the blame at all and who have failed in many World Cups, Asia Cups but are still power hungry which results in grouping in the team. This is what happens when your captain is weak and not performing. When you say that New Zealand or India have not won the trophy, look at their captain’s bravery by resigning. What do you think about us? When will we be so honest and brave? We are down to number seven in the rankings and below that is only darkness. What do you think?” he further added.
However, Pakistan also failed to secure a place in the Super 8 round of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Their back-to-back defeats against the USA and India saw a premature group-stage exit for the side. Ahmed Shehzad also called Pakistan’s limited-overs captain a fraud king.
“Your strike rate is 112 and average is 26. You haven’t hit a single six in 207 balls in the Powerplay. I admit I could’ve improved on my own performances 8 years ago, but your stats are even worse. You are worse than me, but you are king. You’re a fraud king.” “He could not bring any trophy for Pakistan. After that you have ruined the entire domestic structure, you are such a captain, you cannot unconventionally run the domestic team to bring in your friends,” he added.
