Babar Azam almost cried during an emotional press conference after lose to afghanistan

 

In the aftermath of Pakistan's humiliating loss to Afghanistan, senior journalist Abdul Majid Bhatti reported that skipper Babar Azam was on the verge of tears and spit out facts to the media.

During the Geo News show Geo Pakistan, Bhatti, who is currently in India to cover the mega event, discussed the fitness issues raised by Babar in his post-match press conference.

Afghanistan beat Pakistan by 283 runs on Monday thanks to innings from Ibrahim Zadran (87), Rahmat Shah (77 not out), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65), and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (48 not out).

It was an emotional press conference that I witnessed with my own eyes after Babar Azam's defeat against Afghanistan, something that you may not have seen from there (in Pakistan). I believe he was on the verge of crying when he spoke a lot of facts that normally cricketers do not state,” Bhatti said.

According to the journalist, Babar is responsible for the current mess that the Pakistan team is in and that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shut the doors on a fitness regimen when Misbah-ul-Haq left the position of head coach two years ago.

In addition, he lamented the emphasis placed on Biryani, chops, and karahi ever since the team arrived in Hyderabad, as well as a lack of focus on nutrition.

Rather than prioritizing other issues, the players should focus on themselves as professionals.

Prior to the World Cup, Babar Azam had been in a three-month dispute with PCB over a salary increase in his central contract. However, according to reports, three players - Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Sha Afridi - are already receiving close to Rs 5.7-5.8 million as part of their A category contracts. Of course, it is expected that cricketers should be paid well for their hard work. But when there is a decline in performance and complaints about fitness arise after holding the captaincy for 3.5 years, the responsibility ultimately falls on Babar Azam himself," stated Bhatti.

Journalist Sohail Imran dismissed reports about fights within the squad. However, he was shocked that the PCB issued a press release over a social media post.

Players and PCB will perform better when they are freed from social media pressure, said Imran.

Babar Azam: 'I don't know what the players are thinking,'

After the team's humiliating World Cup 2023 loss to Afghanistan at Chennai's Chidambaram Stadium, Babar reprimanded his team's poor fielding performance.

The team's third consecutive loss in the ongoing mega event was attributed to below-par performances in the bowling and fielding departments.

According to the skipper, players are absent-minded during fielding and don't know what they are thinking.

In addition, he acknowledged that the "spinners didn't bowl well in the middle overs and didn't put [enough] pressure [on Afghan batters]".

As for "added captaincy pressure," the 29-year-old said he keeps both aspects of his responsibilities separate.

Despite India's loss, [team] is not under pressure.

We are not seeing success with our [game] plans [...] Whatever we plan is not being implemented to its full potential," the skipper said.

In addition to congratulating Afghanistan on their historic win, Babar reaffirmed his commitment to winning all remaining matches.

Pakistan's World Cup 2023 strategy: What's wrong?

Babar Azam & Co's World Cup campaign is in disarray after three consecutive defeats, a trend that has become a hallmark of Pakistan cricket.

After winning two games against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka in the World Cup, Pakistan was outclassed by India, Australia, and Afghanistan, leaving them with four points from five matches.

In order to qualify for the semi-finals, the Green Shirts will now face South Africa, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and England.

The way Pakistan has fallen from a world-class team to a hapless and unimpressive side in this tournament is mind-boggling.

Pakistan failed to overcome the massive defeat they suffered in Ahmedabad against India, and then they lost to Australia to add insult to injury.

Despite a reasonable start, Pakistan collapsed and were bowled out for a meagre 191 runs against India, even though they were the clear favourites.

On one hand, Pakistani bowlers delivered 152 dot balls, but on the other, they conceded 367 runs in 50 overs during the game against Australia.

Additionally, no effort is made to think outside the box or plan ahead.

The world's best bowling attack just a few months ago has disappeared. It is hard to believe that the absence of Naseem Shah is the sole reason for Pakistan's lacklustre bowling display.

It may be one reason, but who is to blame for the lack of situational awareness?

We seem to have systematically damaged the team ourselves, and now we are paying for it.

Our players are least interested in first-class cricket, and this is why they're not as impressive in ODIs as they can be in T20Is, as former captain Wasim Akram pointed out.

The lack of serious effort from his teammates on the field is another problem Babar Azam is facing. As a result of the three dropped catches, especially the one by Usama Mir that gave Warner a lifeline against Australia, as well as the unimpressive fielding against Afghanistan, Warner's fitness standard was put under question.

Pakistan's fielding was worse than a local club team. No effort, no energy, no intent, no attitude. Nothing at all. They looked lethargic from the start.

The time has come for Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn, and Babar Azam to rethink their strategy.

The tournament is still wide open, so Pakistan is not out yet.

To qualify for the last stages, Pakistan must adopt and demonstrate the "Pakistan Way" which was discussed, rather than the traditional "Pakistan Way."

Pakistan management still has time to wake up and rectify things, even though it may be late.

Support from fans and fellow players for Babar

Babar Azam, the captain of the Pakistan cricket team, has been at the center of attention following the heartbreaking loss to Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup. The defeat not only knocked Pakistan out of the tournament but also caused immense emotional turmoil for Babar.

However, amidst all the criticism and disappointment, Babar received overwhelming support from fans and fellow players. This outpouring of love and encouragement has been a source of strength for Babar in coping with his emotions after such a tough match.

One of the most heartwarming gestures came from Babar's die-hard fans who gathered outside his house to show their support. They chanted slogans and held up posters with messages like "We believe in you, Babar" and "You are our captain". This display of solidarity touched Babar deeply and he later expressed his gratitude towards his loyal fans.