Not sparing the Pakistan players after the Green Army’s untimely exit, former Pakistan cricketer Atiq-uz-Zaman slammed Babar Azam’s players for vacationing in England. Babar’s Pakistan team, who finished runners-up in the 2022 edition of the T20 World Cup, started their campaign with a humiliating defeat to co-hosts USA.
Former champions India won a thrilling low-scoring match in New York to hand Pakistan another heartbreaking defeat. Pakistan were eliminated in the group stages of the T20 World Cup after finishing behind the USA and Group A leaders India. Under Babar’s guidance, Pakistan beat Ireland and Canada in the group stages of the T20 World Cup.
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In a video shared on social media, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Atiq questioned the cricket culture in the Green Army camp. “You people are creating such dramas. In our time, we had coaches and managers and the team was run like that,” Atiq said.Seventeen officials competed against 17 players in front of a crowd of 60 spectators. “(17 officials and 17 players were said to have booked 60 rooms). Are you kidding me! Did you go to play cricket or for a holiday?” he continued slamming.
According to one report: The Express Tribunecaptain Babar, Azam Khan, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim have decided to fly to England for a holiday after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup. The star players wanted to spend time with family and friends before returning to international duty. For the first time in the history of the T20 World Cup, Pakistan has failed to progress beyond the group stage of the ICC event.
“Why would you allow families to attend a big event?Begum, that’s not possible. Yesterday, I went into my room one night and (It is customary for him to travel with his wife on tour) In the evening, he goes out and his focus shifts from cricket to his family, his kids, his wife…Takeaway is a must when you stay at this hotel… or when you watch a movie when you stay at this hotel (They were eating at a takeaway restaurant and were filmed there),” Atiku added.
Pakistan next play a two-Test series at home against Bangladesh in August. Following the Green Army’s early exit from the T20 World Cup, head coach Gary Kirsten and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood have also left the Pakistan camp. “A culture has been created in Pakistan cricket where nobody knows what discipline is. Where is the focus when you are playing such big events? Can’t you just leave everything else behind and focus only on cricket for two weeks? You are being paid millions of rupees a year,” concluded Atiq.
