Misbah-ul-Haq lashes out at Babar Azam after Pakistan lost to USA

• Pakistan lost to the USA on June 6, 2024
• Misbah-ul-Haq called Babar Azam a “clueless captain”.
• Misbah praised USA’s fitness and smartness.

Misbah ul Haq, the former captain of Pakistan, expressed his disappointment over Babar Azam’s leadership following Pakistan’s loss to the USA on Thursday (June 6) at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.

During a sports TV show, the ex-coach shared his anticipation for the team to perform well in their opening match of the T20 World Cup.

He criticized Babar’s leadership, referring to him as a “clueless captain”, and encouraged the Pakistani team to abandon their “shy-boy attitude” in future games.

“In crucial matches, while defending a target, Babar doesn’t have the shrewdness and street smartness you need. Even in terms of selection, we’ve seen this since the ODI World Cup and Asia Cup that when something isn’t working, you don’t search for a solution. You think it’ll just happen, but it doesn’t. You have to find a solution,” Misbah remarked.

He pointed out key decisions, such as bowling a non-regular off-spinner to two set right-handers, and bringing Amir with the new ball ahead of Naseem. He also criticized the team’s approach to death bowling and the decision to send Haris Rauf ahead of Naseem.

“It was a humiliating defeat for the 2009 T20 World Cup winners by the associate team USA,” Misbah commented.

Misbah noted that the USA team was in control while Pakistan seemed to be waiting for divine intervention. He criticized the lack of planning and execution, particularly in handling the fast bowlers.

He compared the game awareness of both teams and pointed out the USA’s superior fitness, speed, and smartness.

Furthermore, Misbah questioned the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to replace Babar Azam with Shaheen Afridi, especially considering the team’s poor performance in the ODI World Cup 2023.

“In the last 6 months, look at whatever has happened behind the scenes. After the ODI World Cup, there was a musical chair for the board chairman role, and then for captaincy. The problems that came out of the ODI World Cup, we were not able to settle them down. They have one in with the same batting order, the same spin bowling unit, same balance of the team, captaincy, and planning. The chronic problems resurfaced,” Misbah stated.

Pakistan is set to face their long-time rivals, India, on Sunday at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York.

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