"No one is bigger than you..." - Ahmed Shehzad issues an open challenge to Babar Azam

Former T20 World Cup champion Ahmed Shehzad criticized Pakistan skipper Babar Azam for the team's preparation for the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA. Ahmed Shehzad highlighted that Babar Azam failed to guide Pakistan to a major title despite leading the team over the last few years.

Babar Azam was removed from the captaincy after Pakistan's group-stage exit during the ODI World Cup 2023. However, the 29-year-old batter was reappointed as skipper before the T20I series against New Zealand in April. The Men in Green struggled to make an impact during Babar's second captaincy tenure.

The Pakistan team suffered a humiliating series loss by 2-0 against England in their last bilateral series in away conditions. The England cricket team, led by Jos Buttler, outclassed Pakistan in the series. The Pakistan cricket team didn't play any warm-up matches before their campaign in the T20 World Cup.

We Surely Talk About Cricket - Ahmed Shehzad

In a viral video from a Pakistani talk show, Ahmed Shehzad challenged Babar Azam to win the T20 World Cup 2024. Shehzad emphasized that the core group has had numerous chances to prove themselves. He highlighted the need for a change in the team's approach.

"It will be morning if I start talking about their (Pakistan cricketers) discipline. But we have never said anything to anybody, but we surely talk about cricket. If you say you are a prime player, if you say no one is bigger than you, then win the World Cup. You've got five tournaments. And the way they are taking these things, we have to tell to everybody," Shehzad said.

Babar Azam led the Pakistan cricket team to the knockout stage in the last two editions of the T20 World Cup. The Men in Green reached the final match during the last T20 World Cup but lost to England in Melbourne. Pakistan last won the T20 World Cup in 2009 under the leadership of Younis Khan.

We Could And Should Have Won - Babar Azam

Babar Azam discussed Pakistan's defeats to India and Zimbabwe during the T20 World Cup 2022 in a PCB podcast. The Pakistan skipper expressed regret over not winning the match against India and highlighted that the loss to Zimbabwe was particularly painful for him.

"For me, in 2022, we could and should have won the India game, but they took it away. The most hurtful was the defeat against Zimbabwe. It hurts more because we had played good cricket against India and people were praising our performance and fightback," Babar Azam stated.

However, Babar Azam expressed excitement about the 2024 T20 World Cup. Pakistan's journey will begin with a match against the USA at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Thursday, June 6. They will then face India at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 9.

Also read: IND vs IRE: Sanju Samson snubbed as Irfan Pathan picks India's playing XI for T20 World Cup 2024