'If you can't handle pressure, you aren't capable of being in national team' - Younis Khan on Babar Azam

Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has shed light on a concerning pattern within the team, highlighting the resistance in utilizing backups in the squad. He explained this with the example of wicketkeepers Mohammad Rizwan and Sarfaraz Ahmed. Younis emphasized the need to address the issues  and not back players solely based on their name.

Notably, the Pakistan's cricket team is under intense criticism after their disappointing exit in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2023 and the criticism has been particularly directed at Babar for his captaincy decisions.

Babar received criticism for not persisting with pacers after India's top-order collapse, ultimately allowing India to recover and post a challenging total. Additionally, Babar's continued faith in underperforming players like Shadab Khan, rather than considering alternatives like Usama Mir, has drawn significant attention. 

Despite an initial victory against Bangladesh, Pakistan stumbled in their campaign after a crushing 228-run defeat to arch-rivals India. In a rain-affected must-win match against Sri Lanka, Babar Azam's men produced a valiant comeback effort, but fell short, allowing Sri Lanka to clinch the victory on the last ball of the run-chase.

“Even if we were facing Namibia, we were more focussed on keeping the winning combination. In our culture, we think, 'if Sarfaraz is the wicketkeeper, Rizwan shouldn't be there because it will create pressure on Sarfaraz, and vice-versa'. Similarly, say, if Babar Azam is the captain of the team, Younis Khan -- being the batter of similar stature -- can't be vice-captain because it would put Babar in pressure,” Younis said on ARY News.

“If you can't handle this pressure, you are not capable of being in the national team. Then, it will be difficult. Just do your homework! Captaincy isn't a very big deal actually. If your bowler isn't performing well in a particular situation, you should know how to utilise him. You can't follow a certain pattern everywhere in this day and age. Batters now have a plan. Even now, nothing has gone wrong. Address the grey areas. Don't back someone just because he is a fan favourite,” Younis added.

The spotlight on Pakistan's cricket team intensified with reports of a dressing room argument among players, including Babar, after their Asia Cup elimination. Adding to their woes, Naseem Shah's absence due to a shoulder injury and concerns over Haris Rauf's fitness ahead of the 2023 World Cup have created additional challenges.

Pakistan's upcoming journey in the World Cup, commencing on October 6 against Netherlands, is now clouded with uncertainties. As the team grapples with injuries and internal issues, they must regroup and focus on addressing their weaknesses to make a mark on the global stage.