Lahore: Former Pakistan cricketer Yasir Hameed has questioned the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision-making regarding Babar Azam’s selection, asking why the star batter was dropped if he was eventually going to be recalled. Hameed believes Babar’s presence in the Asia Cup could have made a big difference for Pakistan.
“Babar Azam’s Presence Would Have Helped the Team”
In an exclusive interview, Yasir Hameed said that Babar Azam’s inclusion would have been highly beneficial during the Asia Cup.
“The whole world acknowledges Babar as a great player, and he proved that again in the recent Test match,” Hameed said. “If they were planning to bring him back anyway, why was he removed in the first place?”
He praised the decision to recall Babar to the T20 squad, calling it a positive and much-needed move for the national team.
Criticism of Team Leadership During the Asia Cup
Yasir Hameed also expressed concern about Agha Salman’s captaincy during the Asia Cup, suggesting that his leadership lacked strong and decisive moments.
“Under Agha Salman’s captaincy, the team failed to make big decisions,” he said. “Losing three matches against India was unacceptable.”
He added that this poor performance could be one of the main reasons why the PCB decided to hand over the captaincy to Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is expected to bring aggression and energy to the team.
Head Coach Reveals the Reason Behind Babar’s Return
Earlier, Pakistan’s head coach, Mike Beeson, held a press conference in Lahore, where he explained the strategic reason behind Babar Azam’s return to the T20 setup.
Beeson said the decision was part of a well-thought-out team plan, especially after Fakhar Zaman requested a temporary break from T20 cricket to focus on the ODI format.
“Once Fakhar took a break, a top-order position opened up, and that made it possible for Babar to return,” Beeson explained. “It was a decision made purely based on team needs.”
A Smart but Confusing Move by the PCB
While Babar Azam’s return has been widely welcomed by fans and former players alike, Yasir Hameed’s comments reflect a broader question about PCB’s consistency and planning. Dropping a player of Babar’s caliber, only to bring him back shortly after, suggests a lack of clarity in long-term strategy.
For now, though, Hameed believes that Pakistan cricket has made the right call by restoring one of its finest batters to the lineup.
