‘Babar Azam Is Not MS Dhoni’ – Ahmed Shehzad Blasts Pakistan Captain Ahead of T20 World Cup 2024

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup preparations were rocked by a heated debate between openers Ahmed Shehzad and Imam-ul-Haq on live television.

The discussion, which took place on Pakistani channel Geo TV’s T20 World Cup show, centred around Babar Azam‘s captaincy and its impact on the national team.

Shehzad ignited the controversy when questioned about Babar’s selection process. He minced no words, criticizing Babar for alleged favouritism and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for reinstating him as white-ball captain just before the World Cup.

“There’s favouritism,” Shehzad bluntly stated. He pointed out a pattern of underperforming players being given extended runs under Babar’s leadership. “It doesn’t look good,” he remarked. Shehzad argued that other captains wouldn’t tolerate such long ropes for out-of-form players.

Ahmed Shehzad when asked about the longer run given to Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shehzad stated that Sarfaraz Ahmed’s captaincy yielded results – the 2017 Champions Trophy win over India. “He justified his captaincy with a trophy,” Shehzad argued. “Babar hasn’t delivered in ICC events.”

Sarfaraz Ahmed Delivered Results, Babar Has Not: Ahmed Shehzad

Ahmed Shehzad took a shot at the PCB for bringing back Babar Azam as the white ball captain right after Shaheen Afridi had just one T20 series. Shehzad pointed out that Babar is no MS Dhoni to be brought back.

“They [Sarfaraz Ahmed and Co.] produced the results, won the Champions Trophy. It justifies, you also win this event and justify. However, you’ve got a longer run, one captain doesn’t get five events. You were removed and then brought back. I understand if you were MS Dhohi that you were brought back. But no. It’s wrong with Shaheen, you made him captain for two matches and then you removed him.”

Pakistan will kick off their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against the USA on June 6th. The highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match will take place on June 9th in New York.