Bangladesh triumphed in the recent ODI series, defeating Pakistan with a convincing 2-1 scoreline. However, the absence of Pakistan’s star batsman, Babar Azam, has raised eyebrows and confusion among fans and analysts alike. The discourse surrounding Babar’s exclusion has been fueled by conflicting statements from selectors, head coach Mike Hesson, and Babar himself, igniting discussions about whether his omission was justified.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently announced the squad for the Bangladesh tour, but they did not clarify if Babar and other senior players were intentionally dropped or merely rested. Last Saturday, senior selector Aaqib Javed revealed to the media that they were informed of injuries sustained by Babar and Fakhar Zaman following the T20 World Cup.
“It’s surprising for us, and we’ve requested the PCB to investigate how they got injured post-World Cup and whether they were fit during the tournament,” he stated, expressing concern over the situation.
In other cricketing news, the Sunrisers Leeds franchise has faced backlash after acquiring Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed during The Hundred player auction. As the first Indian-owned franchise to sign a Pakistani player, they purchased Abrar for around Rs 2.34 crore. The move was met with criticism, leading to a temporary suspension of the team’s X account shortly after the signing, although the platform did not specify the reason.
Abrar was the second Pakistani player sold at the auction, following Usman Tariq, who was signed by Birmingham Phoenix for GBP 140,000 (approximately Rs 1.72 crore). Notably, no franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has signed a Pakistani player since 2009 due to ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
Fans expressed their discontent on social media regarding the Sunrisers Leeds’ decision to sign Abrar, questioning the implications of such a move amid the strained relations between the two countries.
(With PTI Inputs)