Former Pakistan Test opener Sadiq Mohammad has criticised the decision to drop senior players including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Salman Ali Agha from the T20 squad, saying Pakistan should not have made sweeping changes after losing a series or a tournament and should instead give experienced players an opportunity to recover and perform.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Sadiq said the decision reflected poor thinking by the selectors and coaches and warned that Pakistan’s batting problems required greater attention to technique, discipline and shot selection.
“Winning and losing are part of the game,” Sadiq told this correspondent.
“It does not mean that if you have lost the previous series or tournament, and you drop all your senior players like Babar, Shaheen, and Salman. That is a ridiculous and immature decision,” Sadiq said.
“I cannot understand the mindset of our selectors and coaches. When you have immature officials, they tend to make decisions like these without thinking about the long-term consequences,” said Sadiq.
He said all other teams have suffered defeats in the past, but they have not responded by changing their captain and dropping their senior players.
“Usually, they make one or two changes and give the team an opportunity to recover and perform.”
“Babar should have been included in the T20 squad. Pakistan needs technically sound batsmen who have the ability to build an innings and either set or chase a difficult target,” he said.
“Pakistan must select batsmen who have good technique, patience, and sound shot selection. It is the batsmen who take the team close to the target and give it the opportunity to win.”
