In the their first match of T20 World Cup 2024, Babar Azam led Pakistan team faced a thrilling encounter with USA. The gripping game proceeded to Super Over with USA emerging victorious by 5 runs.
Captain Babar Azam was left disappointed and fuming with the display of Men in Green. After a disappointing effort with bat, Pakistan failed to turn up with the bowl as well.
Speaking to Cricbuzz Former Indian player Dinesh Karthik, had strong words for Pakistani captain, Babar Azam regarding his body language during and after the massive upset.
Dinesh Karthik’s Criticism of Babar Azam
In the post match event at Dallas, Texas’s Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Babar Azam opened up about his dissatisfaction with the team’s performance in the crucial first match.
“First six overs, we couldn’t capitalize. 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”
Dinesh Karthik, Indian commentator and former cricketer, emphasized the need of a leading and optimistic attitude of the Captain. He pointed out,
“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,”
Karthik also suggested how a good captain should answer on such occasions as his words can impact his teammates as well,
“It is one thing being honest, but…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 too 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.”
Disenchanted by the response of Babar Azam, Dinesh questioned his leadership and performance in the pivotal event.
“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.”
Pakistan now face the daunting challenge of India on June 9 and a defeat against their arch rivals could spell a premature end to their T20 World Cup hopes.
Tabinda Mir is a writer from Kashmir. She is an English Honours graduate and her interests primarily dwell in poetry and sports writing. She likes to cover Cricket as an avid fan. Apart from sports, her other publications include articles, poems and a letter to summer in the book titled, “Under The Summer Skies”.
Also, her leisure time activities include reading novels, poetry, non literary works, philosophies and writing poetry, short stories, articles on diverse themes.
