Aakash Chopra goes to battle against ex-Pakistan cricketers to shield Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan from blame

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra talked about Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024. He said Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan shouldn't be blamed for poor outings because of their batting approach as they have been playing like this for the last few years.

Pakistan's team has been under the scanner for their poor performances in the ongoing T20 World 2024. They faced defeats against the United States of America and India in back-to-back games, which almost eliminated them from the tournament before the washout in the USA vs IRE game confirmed that. 

Following the team's group stage exit from the T20 World Cup 2024, skipper Babar Azam has come to the forefront of heavy criticism as many fans and experts have lashed out at him for not leading the team well and also failing with his own batting. 

Along with him Mohammad Rizwan too has come under the scanner. The duo was criticized a lot for batting slowly and not taking an aggressive approach. Both the batters had a strike rate of around 100 in important games and couldn't bat freely, which saw the team getting slow starts. 

Aakash Chopra while talking about the it shouldn't be a shock for fans that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan play slowly, highlighted that they have played in the same fashion and that selectors and management should be equally blamed. Speaking in a video posted on his YouTube channel, he explained: 

"Why are you blaming Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam? Everyone is saying that Babar and Rizwan play like this or that and that they shouldn't be played in T20Is, and you don't qualify because of them. Then I ask a question, it's both for the Pakistan public and the selectors - did you not know that they play like this? Is it a shock for you that Rizwan takes his time and Babar also has a style of playing? 

"At times, guys from the archaeological department suddenly find something when they dig the surface. They get utensils from the Mohenjo-daro and Harappa civilization, and you get surprised. No, you knew they play like this only. If you made players who play like that the captain and an important player (Rizwan), it's not their mistake."

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan do provide a little stability but where are the others? - Aakash Chopra 

Aakash Chopra further pointed out that Pakistan should've built the team around Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan but they failed to do so and therefore the duo shouldn't be blamed. He noted that Men in Green don't have explosive batters in the team as Babar and Rizwan just provide stability. He added:

"They play like that only and you have not lost because of them. Even if you have lost, the fact is that these players have played like this only, not from today but for the last eight years..You should have built a team around them. If you have been unable to do that, please don't blame them. 

"Make the team properly, which you have been unable to do. The truth is that if you see the batting order, you don't see explosive ability. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan do provide a little stability but where are the others?"

The Babar Azam-led side will be taking on Ireland in their last game of the tournament. The match will be played on Sunday (16th June) in Florida.