Photo Credit: Instagram Photo of @babarazam
Following a disappointing ODI World Cup in 2023 held in India, top batter Babar Azam stepped down as Pakistan’s captain. Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi was subsequently appointed as the captain of the white-ball teams. However, after just one series against New Zealand, Babar Azam was reappointed as captain for the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States.
“Yes, I was surprised. What can I say, it’s ultimately the selector’s call. Whatever they thought was the best option, they picked and they picked the team [accordingly], Everybody in Pakistan was surprised, not just me. So, I can’t say no that I was not surprised,” Wasim said.
Despite the leadership change, Pakistan performed poorly at the tournament. They were defeated by the associate nation United States and eventual champions India, resulting in their failure to advance to the next round.
“Yeah, our performance wasn’t up to the mark, to be honest, and we have to accept that, including myself. So yeah, but it is what it is. I think we had a good side, but it didn’t click.” Wasim said.
During the World Cup press conference, Wasim attributed the team’s inability to compete against the top teams to the players’ fear of failure.“The problem is our team is so good, our players are so good, that we are good enough to play any kind of cricket. We haven’t tried that but the thing is you have to try that, you have to get rid of the fear of failure. In everything – batting, bowling, fielding, you have to get rid of fear of failure.”
“Personnel change doesn’t change anything, just changing the mindset can change a lot of things. The same ball can be hit for a six, a four, a single, and that same ball can take a wicket and be a dot ball,” he added.
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