Pakistan team’s opening batsman Imam Ul Haq recently backed team captain Babar Azam following critical remarks by batter Ahmed Shahzad on a Pakistan TV show. Shahzad had accused Azam of favoring friendships and close relations over talent when selecting the squad for the T20 World Cup 2024, implying that Azam’s choices were influenced by personal relationships rather than merit.
In response, Imam Ul Haq acknowledged that while Babar Azam should be held accountable for the team’s poor performance, he deserves respect as the captain.
“Everyone has the right to criticize the Pakistan team. But the respect element should never go away. He is your captain. The world has made him a King so it doesn’t make a difference if you consider him that or not. If you want to remove him as a captain then do it, but the respect element should never go away,” Imam stated on a television program.
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Imam highlighted Azam’s significant contributions to Pakistan cricket, urging critics to consider his overall performance rather than focusing on recent statistics. “He [Babar] has played 250 international games for Pakistan. You are showing stats of 20 games, but who will give a response to his average of fifty across formats? If anyone else has it then show it here. Is there anyone else from Pakistan who has been No.1 batter in the rankings? He is playing in the World Cup. He doesn’t have time to come here and show the trends and stats,” The opener argued.
Pakistan faces possible elimination from the T20 World Cup 2024 Super Eights stage due to the USA’s impressive performances. With one match remaining, Pakistan’s chances of advancing are slim. Despite the team’s struggles, Imam emphasized that respect for Azam as a player and captain should be maintained.
