Imam-ul-Haq: “We have failed as a nation when mocking replaces support. You are still a champion, Bobs”
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Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq has lashed out at fans for mocking batsman Babar Azam, saying “we have failed as a nation”.
His comments come after a video went viral, in which supporters can be heard saying: “Oi, oi, have some shame! You don’t even deserve a spot in the T20 team. Go back to Lahore!”
Azam is going through a tough time with his batting as he hasn’t been able to score runs consistently.
This has really hurt the men in green as the 30-year-old is one of their frontline batsmen.
Despite Azam’s struggles, Imam threw his support behind the Lahore native, saying he is “still a champion”.
“We have failed as a nation when mocking replaces support. You are still a champion, Bobs,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
During Pakistan’s tour of Australia, Azam scored 80 runs in three ODIs at an average of 80.
He then proceeded to muster 47 runs in three T20Is at an average of 15.66.
After the Australia series, Pakistan travelled to Zimbabwe, but Azam was rested and thus wasn’t included in the squad.
Despite not having the services of Azam, the men in green came away with a 2-1 win in both the ODI and T20I series.
Pakistan’s next assignment will see them face South Africa in three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests.
The T20I series will begin on December 10, while the ODI and Test series will get underway on December 17 and December 26 respectively.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha