• Pakistan Cricket Board’s Exclusion of Babar Azam from Test Series.
• Iqbal Qasim expresses concerns over the PCB’s decision to exclude star batter Babar Azam from the national team during the Test series against England.
• In his absence, the team, led by Shan Masood, achieved a convincing 152-run victory over England.

Former Pakistan cricketer and chief selector Iqbal Qasim has expressed concerns regarding the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) choice to exclude star batter Babar Azam from the national team during the ongoing Test series against England in Multan.

Babar has been under significant scrutiny due to his recent subpar performances, having fallen out of the top ten in the ICC Test Batting Rankings last month after a disappointing home Test series against Bangladesh, where he scored only 64 runs across four innings. In the first Test against England, he managed just 35 runs in two innings before being dropped from the squad for the remainder of the series.

In Babar’s absence, the team, led by Shan Masood, achieved a convincing 152-run victory over England, leveling the three-match series and marking their first Test win at home since February 2021.

During an interview with a local sports website, Iqbal Qasim voiced his disappointment over Babar’s treatment, arguing that the cricket board should have offered support during his challenging phase. He stated, “Our mindset has become such that whoever is the top performer is made the captain. But when that cricketer faces a bad phase, he is removed like a fly from milk.”

Qasim pointed out the excessive expectations placed on Babar, which have contributed to the pressure he faces. He remarked, “We’ve become accustomed to seeing Babar Azam score hundreds and fifties, and even his ‘bad’ innings are around 30-35 runs, while other batsmen struggle to even reach that. Why is the criteria for Babar set so high that if he scores 100, he will stay in the team, and he has to score 100 in every match?”

He emphasized that losing form is a normal aspect of the game and that players should receive support during tough times. “Every great cricketer, including Zaheer Abbas, has faced tough times. During those times, we need to support them and boost their morale,” he added.

Qasim also questioned the high standards set for Babar, stating, “Why is the standard for Babar Azam so high that only a hundred keeps him in the team? You can’t form a team without your superstars like Majid Khan, Imran Khan, or Javed Miandad.”

“My personal opinion is that Babar has served as captain, reached a good position, and has been a top performer, ranked number 1 in the world.”

“He has countless fans in India, England, and Pakistan. He needed support; we should have played him, even if you removed him from captaincy. As a player, he deserves a spot. If you say he doesn’t deserve a spot as a player, that’s just unfair.”

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