Babar Azam should quit captaincy and focus on his batting: Ex-Pakistan players
Karachi, Nov 13: Several former Pakistani cricket stalwarts, including Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq, feel that skipper Babar Azam needs to give up captaincy and concentrate on his game following a dismal World Cup campaign under his leadership.
Pakistan failed to qualify for the semifinals following five defeats in nine matches.
They felt that Babar had got his share of chances as a leader but failed to deliver.
"I am not against Babar but he has to decide after looking at his performances as a player and captain whether he can continue to take the pressure of both," said Malik during a reception here on Monday.
"I think we need Babar more as a player. As a captain, he has got his chances to show his worth. Unfortunately, he didn't come through," he added.
Razzaq pointed out that Babar had been captain since late 2019, and four years is enough time to judge someone's capability as a leader.
"I have always said this, if you are honest and sincere in your decisions as captain, things will work out accordingly. Unfortunately, he has made some wrong calls and that is the reason for our poor performance in the World Cup," he said.
Akmal felt that not everyone can be a leader and also the team's batting mainstay.
"He has to make up his mind. What the Pakistan Cricket Board decides is something different. But he has to realise that captaining the team and being the main batsman is not everyone's cup of tea."
"I think we need to have separate captains for red and white-ball formats," he added.
Younis Khan, who captained the team that won the T20 World Cup in England in 2009, felt Pakistan could become better with a bit of fine-tuning.
"I don't think there is a need for any massive changes; just a little fine-tuning and shuffling is required. And, yes, we have to work on finding one or two quality spinners. But this is not a bad team, and its performance in the World Cup is not a reflection of its worth," he said.
Rashid Latif said the PCB chairman too should take the blame for the team's performance.
"It happened in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019. Why should only the captain be changed? What about the board chairman? Does he not have any responsibility?"
"First, the PCB has to put its house in order, then look at the team issues. I still say we didn't play well in the World Cup, but if we have two good spinners, this same team will perform differently," he said.
Shahid Afridi said a system has to be created to groom players to handle the pressure of big events.
"I thought our players didn't cope well with the pressure in some matches," he said, before adding that Babar should continue as captain for the upcoming tour of Australian in December.
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4 held for sexually assaulting woman, girl on moving bus after social media alert in UP's Agra
Agra (UP) (PTI): Four people were arrested, after a prompt response by police following a social media alert, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and a girl inside a moving bus here, officials said on Tuesday.
According to an official police statement, at 12:27 am on April 27, information was received on the social media platform X about an incident of sexual assault on a bus travelling from Kanpur to Ahmedabad, which was approaching Namner crossing in Agra.
Acting under the direction of Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, the Agra Police social media team immediately alerted the Rakabganj police station within minutes and coordinated with the victims to confirm the incident and obtain the exact location, it stated.
Police teams launched intensive checking at Namner crossing and intercepted the bus as it reached the spot. The four accused involved in the incident were apprehended on the spot, and legal action was initiated against them, the statement said.
The police said the swift response and coordination between the social media team and field units ensured timely action, bringing relief to the victims and other passengers, who expressed gratitude towards the police, it added.
