The Director of Media of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Aalia Rasheed on Wednesday stated that the former captain Babar Azam was not ready to compromise on even a single player in the ICC World Cup 2023 squad.
Aalia talked about the press release that the PCB published during the World Cup and confirmed that the squad was completely selected by Azam and former Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq.
"One thing I want to make clear is that the PCB never, for once, criticised Babar Azam or the team during the World Cup nor did they try to hold Azam responsible for the losses," Aalia said while talking to Geo News.
"Look, Babar is a respectable player there is no doubt about that and he has an independent nature, and I believe that every captain should possess that quality but it doesn't mean that you ignore the recommendation of other selection committee members.
"In that press release, it was stated that the team was chosen by Inzamam and Babar and that was the truth. He [Babar] wasn't ready to compromise on even a single player and the board supported him. It is a fact whether one accepts it or not."
She was then asked if the PCB have any intentions to remove Babar from the team too to which she categorically denied.
"No, what kind of a question is that, Babar is a great player. He as a player is an all-time great. Cricket's history is filled with players who couldn't be great captains. Look at Sachin Tendulkar, the world hasn't produced a bigger player than him, but was he a good captain? No, he had to leave the captaincy. Virat Kohli is another example," she added.
She also addressed the press conference of the newly-appointed chief selector Wahab Riaz and said that he has a confident personality and every player should be ready to play for Pakistan whenever they are called.
"Wahab Riaz is a chief selector, he did a very good press conference. He is very confident and the best thing he said was if a player isn't available for Pakistan, then it isn't a good thing. We will tell them clearly that they are not just here to play the leagues, yes they should play them it is their right, but whenever you're called for Pakistan, you should participate. It is kind of an injustice that you're part of central contracts and then say that we will play matches of our choice.”
- Babar Azam
- Shadab Khan
