Azhar Mahmood criticises Pakistan's selection policy for Australia Tests

Former Pakistan all-rounder and their bowling coach Azhar Mahmood has criticised Pakistan’s selection policy in the wake of the awful performances in the ongoing Test series in Australia. After being thrashed by an innings and five runs in the first Test, Pakistan had yet another forgettable outing on day one of the ongoing second Test in Adelaide.

In-form David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne both scored back-to-back centuries as Australia stamped their authority on the opening day. At stumps, the hosts were at a dominant position with the scoreboard reading 302 for one. Warner and Labuschagne had shared a mammoth 294-run partnership, leaving Pakistan with a huge battle to stay in contention.

Warner was not out 166 and Labuschagne unbeaten on 126, following on from their 154 and 185 respectively in the first Test at Brisbane. Pakistan, who need to win the Test in order to not return home empty handed, started well with the ball after Australia skipper won the toss and decided to bat first. Shaheen Afridi dismissed Joe Burns for just 4 to rock Australia at the start. But from thereon, it was just a one-way traffic.

Azhar Mahmood unimpressed with selections:

Pakistan’s selection policy for the series has left Mahmood unimpressed. He cited the example of pacer Mohammad Abbas to back his claim. Abbas, who tormented Australia when he took 17 wickets in two Tests in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last October, was a surprising omission from the playing eleven for the first Test at The Gabba.

The team management dropped him in order to pick 16-year-old pace sensation Naseem Shah. But it did not take Pakistan long to realise their mistake as they recalled Abbas while dropping Shah. They also handed a debut to 19-year old Muhammad Musa but it did not make any difference. Following the day’s play, Azhar took to Twitter to criticise Pakistan’s decisions.

He slammed the management for not backing players and giving them confidence. Azhar was also unhappy with the chopping and changing policy as he wrote: “Why are we not not backing our players and giving them confidence?? . Firstly there was no reason not to play Abbas, I hope now that they have brought him back they back him and not drop him otherwise that’s the end of his career. Contd …”

“We know that Australian players are strong on the back foot, hence we needed to bowl fuller lengths… But this also comes from giving them confidence. What’s with the panic button why do they keep chopping and changing players,” he added.

Here are Azhar Mahmood’s tweet

Why are we not not backing our players and giving them confidence?? . Firstly there was no reason not to play Abbas, I hope now that they have brought him back they back him and not drop him otherwise that’s the end of his career. Contd …

— Azhar Mahmood (@AzharMahmood11) November 29, 2019

We know that Australian players are strong on the back foot, hence we needed to bowl fuller lengths… But this also comes from giving them confidence. What’s with the panic button why do they keep chopping and changing players.

— Azhar Mahmood (@AzharMahmood11) November 29, 2019

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