Lahore: Babar Azam, during a review session led by PCB chief Zaka Ashraf following Pakistan’s disappointing exit from the 2023 Asia Cup, has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board not to alter his role as team captain and to retain Shadab Khan as vice-captain.
The Pakistan team faced a disheartening loss to arch-rivals India and failed to advance to the final, as Sri Lanka overcame them. Consequently, the performances of senior players, including Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan, have come under scrutiny.
This situation has caused a delay in the announcement of Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023. The team management is engaged in consultations to finalize the squad, taking into account the performances and injuries experienced by the players during the Asia Cup.
Sources from Geo News have reported that both Azam and Director Mickey Arthur acknowledged that a flawed strategy contributed to their loss in the regional tournament.
Notably, Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq was conspicuously absent from the meeting.
Azam pointed out that continuous travel and adverse weather conditions had an adverse impact on the team’s preparations. He emphasized that the team was on a winning trajectory before the Asia Cup.
Arthur admitted that there were concerns regarding fitness and the middle order, but the duo was unable to outline a comprehensive plan for the World Cup. They expressed their desire to approach the World Cup with careful planning.
During the meeting, sources revealed that fast bowling coach Morne Morkel suggested hiring a dedicated coach for spinners.
It’s essential to bear in mind that under ICC rules, all cricket boards are required to finalize their teams for the mega event by September 28.
