Photo Credit: Instagram Photo of @ramiz_speaks
Babar Azam, considered Pakistan’s top batter, has been dropped from the Test squad ahead of the second match against England. His removal sent shockwaves through the cricketing community as it followed a series of inconsistent performances. The newly formed Pakistan Cricket Board national selection committee took this action as part of a broader shakeup.
Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja criticized the selectors’ decision, labeling it a “knee-jerk reaction.” He argued that Babar’s absence is detrimental, as he is not only a key player for the team but also a brand that generates revenue for Pakistan cricket.
“I think it was a knee-jerk reaction [by the] new selectors. The general opinion was that he needed rest and he was taken out of the squad completely,” Ramiz said.
“We need to understand that he sells cricket for Pakistan. There’s always this debate that is happening right now in Pakistan—whether there’s going to be another failure for Babar Azam or whether he’s going to make a comeback. And that keeps things interesting,” he added.
Babar is not the only high-profile player to be dropped, as Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah also faced the same fate. Ramiz expressed concern that the absence of these star players leaves Pakistan’s lineup lacking “sellable commodities,” which could impact sponsorship opportunities.
“Right now, I don’t see any sellable commodity in this Pakistan team… sponsors are a little wary as well because a) Pakistan has been on a losing streak, and b) there are no real superstars playing in this Test match now.”
At the toss for the second Test, Pakistan captain Shan Masood acknowledged the absence of the three key players, stating that some factors are beyond his control. “I think firstly playing a Test match for Pakistan is a huge opportunity for anyone who wants to be a cricketer, so we’re all excited, and there’s some rejuvenated energy in the camp,” Shan Masood said.
“There’s stuff we can’t control, but we can control what we do on the field. We’re very positive about this. We’re happy the spinners have some conditions where we can show we have some decent spinners,” he added.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
