Ahmed Shehzad: “The real issue is simple, it’s not his number, he’s out of form, and he hasn’t delivered impactful performances for the last three years”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has said that Babar Azam has not delivered an impactful performance for the past three years.
He added that Azam’s stint at number four in T20Is has also failed to produce results, noting that the 31-year-old is struggling for runs and is not suited to the role.
Shehzad further stated that the Lahore-born batsman is “out of form” and cannot continue occupying the number four spot going forward.
“Now we’re talking about Babar Azam. You can’t play him at number four, it doesn’t suit him, and it can’t be justified,” he was quoted as saying on Facebook.
“The real issue is simple, it’s not his number, he’s out of form, and he hasn’t delivered impactful performances for the last three years. We said this before, but no one listened.”
Azam is now captaining Pakistan in their two-Test series against the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago.
After this, the men in green will travel to England to play three Tests from August 19 to September 13.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah
Pakistan Squad for England Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah