In the recent encounter with Afghanistan, Pakistan incurred their very first ODI defeat against their neighbours. The Afghans displayed remarkable prowess, with the likes of Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz scoring fifties to successfully chase down Pakistan’s target of 283 runs with an over to spare. While Afghanistan celebrated a historic win, Pakistan found themselves in a state of turmoil.
The shocking loss raised questions about the leadership of Pakistan’s young captain, Babar Azam. Despite his valiant effort with the bat, where he scored a fighting half-century, criticism and scrutiny followed. Veterans and cricketing experts expressed their disappointment, highlighting the captain’s role in the team’s performance.
Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf revealed a glimpse of the emotional toll these losses have taken on Babar Azam. Yousuf disclosed that the captain looked disturbed during press conferences and had even been seen crying after the defeat against Afghanistan. These revelations underscore the immense pressure and emotional burden carried by the young captain.
“I saw the press conference, and I noticed that he looked disturbed the other day. I heard that Babar cried after the defeat against Afghanistan as well. It is not just Babar’s fault in the team’s defeat; it involves the entire team and management. We are with Babar in this difficult time, and the whole country is with him,” said Yousuf on Samaa TV as he detailed Pakistan’s dressing-room scene.
Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi, part of the same panel discussing Pakistan’s struggles, weighed in on Babar’s captaincy. He emphasized the importance of leading by example as a captain and how it can significantly impact a team’s morale and performance. Afridi stressed that when the captain is not fully engaged or positive, it reflects in the team’s performance.
“When you are not in the game [not focused], then these things [fielding issues] will happen. When you are trying to hide somewhere, when you are not thinking positively, I think that, at times, we are waiting for miracles; miracles don’t just happen. They happen with brave men who know how to fight,” Afridi said.
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Drawing from his own experiences as a captain, Afridi cited examples of players like Yousuf and Inzamam-ul-Haq, who used to inspire the team with their commitment and dedication. When the captain sets the bar high, it motivates the entire squad to give their best.
“It has happened in the past, when I was the captain or Mohammad Yousuf was, when we used to run in the ground and support players, then the entire team used to charge up. When Inzamam would dive during the field, then, believe me, we players used to feel ashamed that why are we not diving when the captain is. Everything comes right back to the captain,” he added.
Despite the disheartening losses, Pakistan still has an opportunity to turn their campaign around in the World Cup. With four league games remaining, winning all of them would put them in contention for a semifinal spot.
