LAHORE: Newly appointed head coach of Pakistan white-ball cricket team Aaqib Javed has touched on the inclusion of star player Babar Azam and his position in the T20I squad.
The former captain, who has been going through a tough phase in all formats of the game, also had a mediocre performance in the recent three-match T20I series against Australia where he scored just 47 runs at a meager average of 15.66 and strike rate. From 142.42.
Aqib, while addressing the media in Lahore on Wednesday, was asked whether Babar would be considered for selection for the T20Is.
“Great players like Babar and Rizwan have value. Over the years they have sung for Pakistan.”
Earlier, commenting on Babar’s woes in the aforementioned series, former cricketer Basit Ali claimed that the third T20I against Australia was the batsman’s last in the format, since Aqib – one of the most vocal critics of the star batsman – took over the reins. The side of the white ball.
“As long as Aaqib Javed is the head coach, this could be Babar Azam’s last T20 match,” Basit said during a local TV show.
“I’m simply stating the obvious. You have an excellent batsman who is averaging just 14 runs in three matches. What kind of batsman gets dismissed before the eighth game is over? He asked.
However, in his speech, Aqib debunked Basit’s allegations and highlighted Babar’s contributions to the team over the years and reiterated that “everyone has their own opinion but our focus is not to target any individual.”
“Everyone has seen Babar playing in the last three ODIs. I mean, look, when you become a coach or a selector, it’s not about individual (preference). Your goal is to improve Pakistan cricket,” the head coach added.
“Whatever efforts we made were not in the interest of any individual but Pakistan cricket as a whole. If I win the series against England, Pakistan cricket team has won it,” Aqib said while addressing the media.
“So, our focus remains only on trying to improve the image and results of Pakistan cricket,” he concluded.