Babar Azam Under Fire: Fans Furious After Pakistan’s Poor Show Against Kiwis

Newz Daddy Cricket Updates

Synopsis of the Article

• Pakistan lost to New Zealand by 60 runs in the opening match of the Champions Trophy at home.
• This was their third consecutive defeat against the Kiwis in two weeks.
• Pakistan’s batting struggles continued, with key players failing under pressure while chasing 321 runs.
• Babar Azam’s slow 64 off 90 balls lacked intent, while Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel failed to build momentum.
• Fakhar Zaman, returning from an injury scare, struggled at No. 4, scoring 24 off 41 balls.
• Wasim Akram defended the team, stating that these are Pakistan’s best available players and dismissed the criticism of ‘parchi’ selections.
• Pakistan’s bowling attack was poor, with Haris Rauf conceding 83 runs in 10 overs and Shaheen Afridi struggling in the death overs.
• New Zealand’s Tom Latham (118) and Will Young (107) dominated* the Pakistani bowlers.
• Poor home crowd turnout added to Pakistan’s woes.
• Pressure mounts on Pakistan ahead of their crucial clash against India.

Pakistan’s Champions Trophy campaign got off to a terrible start when they lost to New Zealand by 60 runs in their opening match. In just two weeks, they had lost to the Kiwis three times in a row, which exposed serious weaknesses in their bowling and batting lineups.

Pakistan’s batting lineup once again fell short when pressure mounted as they chased 321 runs. Despite batting 64 off 90 balls, captain Babar Azam’s languid pace lacked the energy required in a high-scoring chase. Saud Shakeel (6 off 19) and Mohammad Rizwan (3 off 14) were unable to establish themselves, leaving the middle order exposed.

Fakhar Zaman’s difficulties further shattered Pakistan’s aspirations. After missing the majority of Pakistan’s fielding because of an injury scare, the left-handed batter returned to bat at No. 4 and didn’t look his best. He managed just 24 runs off 41 balls, failing to inject any momentum into the innings. The game was already lost when Pakistan’s lower order attempted to rally.

The injury to Fakhar Zaman has put Pakistan in more trouble as he was the only regular opener batter and along with him was a forced opener in the form of Babar Azam and now losing Fakhar Zaman will add salt to the wound.

Pakistan’s bowlers also had a difficult game; it wasn’t simply their batting that let them down. Even the always dependable Shaheen Afridi struggled in the final overs, while Haris Rauf was costly, giving up 83 runs in 10 overs. Due to their inability to halt Tom Latham (118) and Will Young (107), who formed a strong partnership, Pakistan’s dependence on part-time spinners proved expensive.

Fans and past cricket players harshly criticised the Pakistani team following the defeat. Former captain and World Cup winner Wasim Akram, however, stood up for the players. Speaking on the Dressing Room Show on YouTube, which also includes Nikhil Chopra and Cheteshwar Pujara, Akram denied the widespread accusation of “parchi” choices, a phrase used to describe players who are purportedly chosen based more on favouritism than on merit.

“Look, I can be brutally honest if that’s what you want. We overprotect our players in our culture by saying things like, “These are our kids, don’t criticise them,” even though they are the best players out there. They would have been chosen if there was a better candidate. “Parchi doesn’t work at this level,” Akram said.

Additionally, Akram noted that Pakistan’s selection procedure is complicated, with several selectors and a modified domestic system, making it challenging to quickly integrate new players.

Pakistan’s problems were exacerbated by the game’s lacklustre home fan turnout. The stadium’s empty seats served as a sobering reminder that Pakistan’s recent results have not garnered much fan support.

Pakistan is under a lot of strain after this loss in preparation for their intense match against India. They have limited time to address their problems before playing their bitter rivals because their bowling is having trouble and their batting appears to be lacking. Their Champions Trophy campaign may be seriously jeopardised if they are unable to recover.

Related Stories

Review of “The Greatest Rivalry: India Vs Pakistan” On Netflix