Babar Azam Rested by PCB for England Tests

In a surprising turn of events, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to rest star batsman Babar Azam for the upcoming second and third Test matches against England. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from former England captain Michael Vaughan, who labeled it an "absolutely stupid decision". Vaughan expressed his disbelief on social media, questioning the logic behind dropping a team's best player after just one loss in the series. He stated, "So Pakistan haven't won in a while... Go 1 nil down in the series and decide to drop the best player in Babar Azam. I guess Pakistan cricket is full of surprises, but this tops the lot... absolutely stupid decision... unless he has asked for a break!!!"

The PCB's announcement came after Pakistan suffered an innings and 47-run defeat in the first Test, marking their sixth consecutive loss in Test matches. This disheartening performance has left Pakistan at the bottom of the World Test Championship standings. Babar Azam, who managed only 35 runs in the first Test, has faced scrutiny following Pakistan's early exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup. Although he stepped down as captain in all formats, he was reappointed as the captain for T20 Internationals and ODIs four months later. Unfortunately, his second stint did not yield positive results, leading to his resignation once again.

In addition to Babar, the PCB has also rested key pace bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah for the upcoming Tests. Afridi, who is just 24 years old, has struggled to regain his form after a knee injury. In light of these changes, current Pakistan captain Shan Masood has come out in support of Babar, calling him "Pakistan's best batter" and urging for more patience with players during tough times.

Fakhar Zaman, another prominent batsman, echoed this sentiment just before the squad announcement. He pointed out that India did not bench Virat Kohli during his rough patch between 2020 and 2023, when Kohli's averages were significantly lower than his usual standards. Zaman cautioned that sidelining Babar, who is arguably the best batsman Pakistan has ever produced, could send a negative message throughout the team. He emphasized the importance of protecting key players rather than undermining their confidence.

Aqib Javed, a member of the selection committee, explained that the decision to rest Babar and other players was made after careful consideration of their current form and the urgency to bounce back in the series. The PCB spokesman acknowledged that selecting the squad for the Tests against England was a challenging task, but they are committed to providing opportunities for young players and domestic performers to shine against a strong England side.

The newly announced squad includes Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (wicket-keeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, and Zahid Mehmood. With uncapped players like Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, and Kamran Ghulam joining the ranks, the PCB aims to inject fresh talent into the team.

As Pakistan prepares for the upcoming Tests, the decision to rest Babar Azam raises questions about the team's strategy and the importance of maintaining morale among its players. While the PCB's intentions may be to rejuvenate the squad, it is crucial to strike a balance between resting players and ensuring that the team remains competitive. The cricketing world will be watching closely to see how these changes impact Pakistan's performance against England.