Thu Oct 03 13:31:28 UTC 2024: ## Pakistan Cricket Crisis: Former Opener Blames PCB for Babar Azam’s Resignation and Team’s Decline

**Ajman, UAE:** Former Pakistan opener Mudassar Nazar has placed the blame squarely on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the recent turmoil surrounding captain Babar Azam’s resignation and the team’s declining performance. Nazar insists that the PCB’s constant tinkering with the captaincy has led to unnecessary tension and instability, hindering the team’s progress.

“It is our own doing,” Nazar told PTI at the ‘Cricket Predicta Conclave’ in Ajman. “We shouldn’t have messed around with the setup. There was one set captain, we should have given him a longer term.”

He criticized the PCB’s decision to appoint Shaheen Shah Afridi as captain in the limited-overs format after Babar’s initial resignation last year, only to reinstate Babar as the white-ball captain a few months later. This constant shifting of leadership, Nazar believes, has created friction between Babar and Shaheen and ultimately contributed to Babar’s second resignation.

The former opener further blamed the PCB for Pakistan’s overall decline, highlighting the team’s poor performances at the 2023 ODI World Cup, the T20 World Cup, and their historic Test series loss to Bangladesh at home. He asserted that the PCB’s neglect of underlying issues and frequent changes in management are responsible for the sport’s downward spiral.

“Nobody has addressed the issue seriously,” he said. “We are changing the cricket board after every two, three, four months, a year. That hasn’t helped either.”

Nazar expressed hope for a future resurgence, attributing the team’s struggles to a lack of stability and support within the system. He also acknowledged the abundance of talent in Pakistan, lamenting that many talented players are becoming lost in the current setup.

In comparing Babar Azam to Indian captain Virat Kohli, Nazar stated that Kohli is already a legend, while Babar has yet to make a lasting mark on the game. He also praised Kohli and Rohit Sharma, highlighting their exceptional batting abilities.

With the PCB yet to name a new white-ball captain, the future of Pakistan cricket remains uncertain. Nazar’s outspoken criticism serves as a stark reminder of the significant challenges facing the board and the urgent need for decisive action to restore stability and rebuild the team.

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