New Delhi: Former Pakistani cricketer Saeed Ajmal has strongly criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and former Pakistani cricketers for their treatment of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Expressing concern over how the PCB has handled these two star players, Ajmal questioned the board’s decision to drop them from the T20 squad for the New Zealand series following Pakistan’s early exit from the Champions Trophy 2025.
Pakistan’s Disappointing Exit from Champions Trophy 2025
Pakistan, the host nation for the Champions Trophy 2025, faced an embarrassing exit after failing to perform on home soil. Their defeat against New Zealand made them the first team to be eliminated from the tournament. Following this poor performance, several former Pakistani cricketers openly criticized Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
However, Saeed Ajmal came to their defense, slamming the critics for targeting these players. He stated, “Our former cricketers should keep their mouths shut. If you constantly bring players down, how will our cricket progress? These are serious issues.”
Ajmal Questions PCB’s Decision to Drop Babar and Rizwan
Ajmal expressed his displeasure over PCB’s treatment of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, stating that poor form is a part of every cricketer’s career. He said, “Even a legendary batsman like Sachin Tendulkar did not score a century in every match. Players go through bad phases.”
After Pakistan’s poor performance in the Champions Trophy, the PCB removed Mohammad Rizwan from the T20 captaincy and dropped both him and Babar Azam from the squad for the New Zealand series. Ajmal criticized this decision, saying, “The way they were dropped was completely wrong. It’s not just them—other players also failed to score runs. The selectors should have had a conversation with Babar Azam to help him regain confidence.”
Babar and Rizwan Are World-Class Players, Says Ajmal
Calling Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan great players, Ajmal pointed out that their statistics speak for themselves. While some criticize them for not playing aggressively, he defended their batting style, saying, “They may not be explosive hitters, but they consistently score runs.”
Ajmal also cited Virat Kohli as an example, stating, “Even Virat Kohli, one of the greatest batsmen, builds his innings gradually before accelerating. That’s his style of batting.”
He urged former Pakistani cricketers to stop unnecessary criticism, saying, “If our top players are treated like this, what will happen to Pakistan cricket? Every cricketer goes through tough times.”
Pakistan’s Poor Start to the New Zealand T20 Series
Following their Champions Trophy exit, Pakistan traveled to New Zealand for a five-match T20 series. However, their struggles continued as they suffered a humiliating defeat in the first T20. Batting first, Pakistan was bowled out for just 91 runs. In response, New Zealand chased down the target with ease, winning by 9 wickets with 59 balls to spare.
With the Pakistan team in turmoil, Saeed Ajmal’s criticism raises valid concerns about the PCB’s handling of senior players and the overall direction of Pakistan cricket. Will the PCB reconsider its approach, or will Pakistan’s struggles continue? Only time will tell.