ICC World Cup 2023: 'This Is A Collective Team Failure' - Misbah-ul-Haq Defends Babar Azam After Pakistan's Poor Performances In Asia Cup 2023

Former Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq emphasized that skipper Babar Azam should not be solely blamed for the team’s elimination in the Asia Cup 2023. Misbah-ul-Haq highlighted that the team not reaching the final of the tournament was a collective failure.

Pakistan started the continental tournament on a high note with a 238-run victory over Nepal in Multan. The Babar Azam-led team beat Bangladesh in their first Super Four game but suffered back-to-back losses against India and Sri Lanka in their last two matches.

Babar Azam Alone Wasn’t Responsible – Misbah-ul-Haq

During a media talk on Monday in Karachi, Misbah-ul-Haq backed captain Babar Azam, highlighting that the team management should make necessary improvements for the upcoming World Cup.

“The captain alone wasn’t responsible for playing 228 runs alone. This is a collective team failure. This happens in cricket. Obviously, we just have to look back. We have to review our performance and strategize what we are going to do in the World Cup,” Misbah said.

“This is not the right attribute to target one person; obviously, your other ten players are also playing, you also have management, and this was the same team that was winning consecutively. Of course, there are mistakes that should be amended,” he added.

Babar Azam started the continental tournament on a high note, scoring 151 runs in the first match. The right-handed batter managed to score just 56 runs in the remaining three innings of the six-team tournament.

Shadad Khan Performed Well In The Past – Misbah-ul-Haq

Misbah emphasized the importance of not singling out players for poor performances in the spin department, pointing out that Shadab Khan had performed well in the past.

“Our spin department couldn’t perform well, but that doesn’t mean players lack something; however, they can improvise. Don’t press the panic button on one bad performance; this was the same Shadab Khan who performed well in the past,” he further added.

The Men in Green will be next seen in action during the much-awaited ODI World Cup 2023 in India, which is set to commence on October 5. The team will play two warm-up games before the start of the tournament. The highly anticipated India-Pakistan match is scheduled to be played in Ahmedabad on October 14.

Also read: ICC World Cup 2023: Watch – Old Video Of Shaheen Afridi Asking Kid ‘Babar Azam Banna Hai’ Surfaces On Internet Following Rumours Of Rift Between Two