Pakistan Legend Slams Selectors Over Babar Azam's Asia Cup Snub: 'Unko Khud Ko Nahi Pata'
Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad slammed the national selectors for leaving out star player Babar Azam from the team's Asia Cup squad. The elegant right-hander remained absent from Pakistan's T20I squad for the subcontinental event to be held in September in the UAE.
Babar, who hasn't featured in the shortest format since December 2024, is speculated to have been dropped for his attritional approach and slow going in the middle. Despite his great solidity, the 30-year-old's late acceleration and an ordinary career strike rate of 129.22 have plagued Pakistan's wings on several occasions, forcing the rest of the batters to take extra risks and ultimately leading to under-par scores.
Miandad, however, put his weight behind the class player to overcome his blues and force his way back into the reckoning. The legend hammered the selectors for ignoring Babar, claiming they lack the cricketing experience and know-how to judge the talent correctly.
What Did Javed Miandad Say About Babar Azam?
' Unko khud ko nahi pata. Unhone cricket kheli hai? Jo jis level pe cricket kheli hai, woh selection kar rahe hain Babar Azam ki. Usko kya nazar aayega? (they have no idea, have they even played cricket? At the level they have played, how are they eligible to select Babar and what eyes do they have?)," a furious Miandad said during a media interaction.
'Babar Azam is a great player. Ups and downs hote hain (there are ups and downs in the game). Cricket is like a radio — you have to catch the station. Jab aap wicket pe jaate ho, bowler aata hai, aap sochte ho — haan, main yeh kar sakta hoon (a batter has plenty to think when he walks in the middle and responds accordingly)."
Babar has been at the receiving end of heavy criticism and scrutiny over the last two years, undergoing a prolonged phase without a century at the international stage. The former Pakistan skipper has now played 72 innings across Tests, ODIs and T20Is since he last produced a hundred in the top-level game. Babar's most recent 100+ score came against emerging cricket nation Nepal in August 2023 at the beginning of that year's 50-over Asia Cup.
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