Virat Kohli mentioned as Sikander Bakht slams Babar Azam and Co. for selling out for $25

Former Pakistan cricketer Sikander Bakht has backed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi's decision to sack Wahab Riaz from the selection committee. Bakht also criticized Wahab Riaz and the team management's decision to bring back retired players for the T20 World Cup 2024.

Pakistan cricket is in turmoil after a disappointing T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in the West Indies and the USA. The Men in Green were eliminated in the first round of the marquee tournament. The Babar Azam-led team failed to advance to the Super 8s after losing their opening matches to the USA and India.

The Pakistan Cricket Board dismissed Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from the selection committee due to the team's poor T20 World Cup 2024 performance. The board also denied No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan for the Global T20 Tournament in Canada.

Wahab Riaz Is The Strongest Person - Sikander Bakht

During a Pakistan TV show, Sikander Bakht defended the PCB's decision to dismiss Wahab Riaz from his role. Bakht criticized Riaz and the team's choice to pick retired players, including Usman Khan. He stated that Riaz is the strongest person.

"Riaz is the strongest person. The reason for this is that in our society, no one is the advisor of the chief minister or the sports minister unless he is very powerful. He was very powerful, but he was removed. That's a good one step forward," Bakht said.

"He must know who gave him the wrong advice to bring back the retired players. To bring back Usman Khan, he must know all this. He was the man, so he removed him. That was a good one," he added.

Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir were included in Pakistan's squad for the T20 World Cup. Wasim and Amir did not perform as expected in the tournament. Amir struggled in the Super Over against the USA, while Wasim's slow innings against India contributed to Pakistan's defeat from a strong position.

In response to concerns about players being denied NOCs for the Global T20 Canada and the potential financial impact, Sikander Bakht pointed out the reports of Pakistani players participating in private events in the USA for as little as $25. He accused the PCB of making Pakistan's cricket scene a mockery.

"But the whole game is that you were saying, What will happen to these kids with so much money? These are the kids who are getting their photos clicked for $25. Do you know that our country has humiliated us so much that you must have seen it yourself that if someone wants to buy a photo for $25, they do it despite having so much money," Bakht further stated.

Bakht compared Pakistan players to Virat Kohli and other Indian cricketers, noting that Indian players are restricted from participating in other franchise leagues but still earn well. He questioned why Pakistani players feel the need to play in additional leagues for financial reasons when they are also well compensated.

Also read: "It was like torture" - Younis Khan recalls suspicious acts after Bob Woolmer’s mysterious death