NEW DELHI: Pakistan's disastrous T20 World Cup campaign in the USA has expectedly triggered a backlash against the players and skipper Babar Azam, in particular, has found himself in the eye of the storm, receiving flak from all quarters.
From questions being raised over his return as captain to his poor run with the bat amid Pakistan's early exit from the cricketing extravaganza, under-fire Babar has been receiving criticism left, right and centre.
And Pakistan's horror show also recently came up in the national parliament when Abdul Qadir Patel of Pakistan National Assembly roasted Babar over the team's debacle showpiece event.
Referring to former Pakistan's cricket team captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan's 2022 move of waving a document at a rally, days before his ouster, Abdul Qadir advised Babar to do the same.
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"Ye cricket team ko kya hua hai (What’s wrong with our cricket team?). They lost to America (USA), they lost to India. Babar Azam should take a lesson from one of his senior cricketers (hinting at Imran Khan) and throw a party after losing where he should wave some documents in public stating, 'There’s been a conspiracy against me'," Abdul Qadir said.
"And when PCB asks him what’s written on that paper, he would say, ‘It’s no more with me. I lost it."
There have been several accusations on the team but I insist, Ab to ek ho jao Pakistan ke liye. Ab to ek ho jao gareeb awaam ke liye (Please get united for Pakistan), he added.
The 2009 champions and also the finalists of 2007 and 2022 editions, lost to USA and India in their first two group games to exit the tournament even before the Super Eights.
Pakistan cricket team head coach Gary Kirsten also recently blasted the team saying that there is 'no unity' in the side and he has 'never seen such a situation' in his long coaching career.
Entering the tournament as runners-up from the previous edition, the Pakistan team produced one of its worst performances in recent years and ended the event with just a consolation win over Ireland, having suffered a shock loss to newcomers USA before biting the dust against traditional rivals India.
According to media reports in Pakistan, Kirsten, who guided India to ODI World Cup triumph in 2011, pulled no punches in his assessment of the team after being eliminated.
"There's no unity in Pakistan's team. They call it a team, but it isn't a team. They aren't supporting each other; everyone is separated, left and right. I've worked with many teams, but I've never seen such a situation," Kirsten said as per reports quoting a senior scribe.
According to reports on the Jang Newspaper website quoting sources, Kirsten said he saw no unity in the team and this was the main cause for the early exit.
"Kirsten told the players that he was surprised to see since he joined the team at the end of May that there is no unity in the team," the report said.
"Your fitness levels are not up to the mark and you are far behind the rest of the world in terms of skill levels. Even after playing so much cricket, no one knows which shot to play and when," Kirsten reportedly told the players.