(Image source: X.com)
[Sava Sports News] In a scathing critique, former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir did not mince words as he directed his disappointment towards the Men in Green captain, Babar Azam, following the team’s failure to secure a spot in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-finals. Despite having won only four out of nine matches, Pakistan finished fifth on the points tally.
Amir emphasized the captain’s pivotal role, asserting that it is the Babar’s responsibility to extract the best performance from the team, dismissing blaming the system as an excuse. Defending the system, Amir pointed to its success in the past, citing the 1992 World Cup victory under Imran Khan, the 1999 team that reached the finals, the 2009 T20 World Cup win and the 2017 Champions Trophy triumph.
“What is the system? It is not a wall. Five and six people have been given responsibility to run the Pakistan cricket. A captain is also one of them. In 1992 under Imran Khan, we won the World Cup, the system was same. In 1999 our team was a world beater, who reached the finals. We won the 2009 T20 World Cup with the same system, we won the 2017 Champions Trophy under same system,” Mohammad Amir said as quoted on on Geo News’ ‘Haarana Mana Hay‘.
Amir focused on Baba’s four-year captaincy tenure, pointing out the he had the autonomy in building the team. He questioned tactical decisions such as not playing Abrar Ahmad and benching Fakhar Zaman after the first match, emphasizing the need for a change in the captain’s mindset rather than blaming the system.
“Babar is captain for past four years. He has build his team on his own. Buttler is not part of our system, then why did England played so badly? Does the system in England also need a makeover?After 2015 debacle, Morgan said I want to play this brand of cricket, I want these 25 players.
“System remained the same, it is the captain, who changed his mindset. As long as captain’s mindset will not change, system can do nothing. Was it the system, who told him not to play Abrar Ahmad, or bench Fakhar after first match,” Amir stated.
He further cited the example of India’s World Cup-winning skipper MS Dhoni, saying that he build his team but did not change the system.
“We say Dhoni changed India’s cricket, but he never changed the system. People kept saying that for how long will he keep giving Jadeja and Ashwin chances. And now we say Jadeja is World’s best all-rounder. MS Dhoni has given them the team,” Amir concluded.