India backed Virat Kohli in powerful occasions, however Pakistan is pulling Babar down: Saeed Ajmal

Former Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has criticised the instability in Pakistan cricket, calling out the therapy of Babar Azam throughout his lean patch in worldwide cricket. Ajmal cited the instance of the assist Virat Kohli acquired from Indian selectors throughout his stoop and accused Pakistan cricket of constructing issues worse for Babar.

In a candid evaluation of the state of affairs, Ajmal acknowledged that Pakistan cricket would wrestle to flourish if it continued to drag down its ‘solely star’, Babar Azam. The off-spinner urged former Pakistan cricketers to chorus from contributing to the negativity surrounding their prime gamers.

Babar has endured a tough patch for the reason that 2023 ODI World Cup in India, the place he managed 320 runs in 9 matches. His struggles deepened within the T20 World Cup 2024, the place Pakistan, underneath Babar’s captaincy, crashed out within the group stage. After stepping down as captain following the ODI World Cup debacle, Babar was reinstated as skipper simply earlier than the T20 World Cup. Nonetheless, within the USA and the West Indies, he scored solely 122 runs in 4 matches at a strike fee of 101.

Babar’s incapability to ship in high-stakes matches continued within the Champions Trophy, the place he managed simply 87 runs in two video games. Pakistan, internet hosting a serious ICC event for the primary time since 1996, suffered an early exit, failing to safe a single win. They had been knocked out within the group stage after defeats to India and New Zealand.

“Have a look at the best way India backed Virat Kohli. His dangerous patch continued for a very long time, however nobody compelled him to give up, and never many needed him to go away. In the meantime, Babar, who’s undoubtedly one of many largest stars of Pakistan cricket, goes by means of a lull, and everyone seems to be busy pulling him down,” Ajmal advised Sportstar.

“Aapke paas ek hello toh star hai (You have got just one star). For those who degrade him too, then how will your cricket survive? These are the massive points. Our former cricketers ought to preserve their mouths shut,” he added.

Within the wake of Pakistan’s Champions Trophy failure, Babar Azam has been dropped from the T20I squad for the tour of New Zealand, together with Mohammad Rizwan. Nonetheless, each batters have been included within the ODI squad for the tour, which begins on March 16.

Ajmal emphasised that prime gamers want assist when they’re struggling, not simply when they’re excelling.

“As a cricketer, one should perceive that dangerous patches are a part of a participant’s profession. You’ll be able to’t play cricket the identical manner all of your life. Even Sachin Tendulkar could not rating 100 runs in each match-he has been dismissed for a duck as properly. He’s a world-class participant, however he too skilled lean phases.

“So, it’s important to present some persistence. Cricketers give the whole lot to the game, and when the chips are down, they want that assist. When he is World No.1, he doesn’t want backing-it’s throughout powerful occasions that he wants it probably the most.”

Pakistan will play 5 T20Is and three ODIs in New Zealand from March 16 to April 5, earlier than the Pakistan Tremendous League will get underway.