Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has launched a pointy critique of the Pakistan cricket group’s management and batting strategy forward of the much-anticipated Asia Cup 2025 closing. Talking throughout Pakistan’s Tremendous 4 conflict towards Bangladesh, Pathan didn’t maintain again whereas highlighting the inconsistency in decision-making that has plagued the facet. His strongest criticism got here when he drew a comparability between present captain Salman Agha’s batting strike price and that of former skipper Babar Azam, who was controversially unnoticed of the event.
Irfan Pathan takes a dig at Salman Agha forward of the Asia Cup 2025 closing
Pathan identified that Agha, who was appointed captain rather than Babar, performed at a strike price of 111, a determine decrease than Babar’s latest common strike price of 130 in T20 internationals. He harassed that regardless of Babar’s well-documented criticism over sluggish scoring previously, his numbers nonetheless seem superior when measured towards the performances of Pakistan’s current middle-order choices.
“I’m myself a giant critique of Babar Azam, however the boys who’ve been taking part in right here in center overs, Babar is best than them,” Pathan stated on Sony Sports activities Community whereas analyzing Pakistan’s batting towards Bangladesh.
His observations reopened the controversy across the exclusion of Babar and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, two of Pakistan’s most constant performers lately. Each gamers have been dropped forward of the Asia Cup with the selectors citing the necessity for contemporary choices within the high order. Nevertheless, their absence has left Pakistan’s batting struggling for fluency in essential matches, elevating questions over the choice coverage and management decisions.
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Choice turmoil leaves Pakistan unsettled
Pathan additional underlined that Pakistan cricket’s recurring instability was on the coronary heart of its struggles. He argued that the fixed adjustments in captains, selectors and group administration have left the gamers feeling insecure about their roles.
“Stability isn’t there within the Pakistan group. Anybody may change into captain, anybody may change into selector. Issues may actually change due to that. The gamers too get impacted. This is the reason the Pakistan gamers are insecure,” he commented whereas additionally questioning how a lot freedom new head coach Mike Hesson has prolonged to his squad.
The controversy over Pakistan’s choices gained momentum after chief selector Aqib Javed defined the controversial omission of Babar and Rizwan. Javed harassed that the choice was performance-based and momentary.
“It isn’t unimaginable that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan won’t ever play T20Is. We’re not writing them off. In the mean time, we have now gamers like Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan. Solely these performing constantly will play,” Javed acknowledged. He added that each senior batters have been supplied with particular tips to work on their strike charges and adaptableness within the shortest format.
Regardless of that assurance, many former cricketers and specialists, together with Pathan, consider Pakistan might have compromised its batting depth by leaving out confirmed performers forward of a high-stakes event. With the Asia Cup 2025 closing looming, the scrutiny over Agha’s management and Pakistan’s unsettled batting order has solely intensified. Whether or not the group can silence its critics within the title conflict or whether or not the controversy round Babar’s absence will overshadow any end result stays one of many largest storylines within the lead-up to the ultimate.
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