In the aftermath of Pakistan’s defeat against Zimbabwe, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were harsh in their criticism of Babar Azam on The Pavilion, an ATV talk show.

Pakistan followed their last-ball defeat against India with another against Zimbabwe, and now face a steep uphill climb if they want to qualify for the semi-finals. Their much-vaunted opening pair failed in both matches. While captain Babar Azam scored a duck and four, Mohammad Rizwan managed four and 14. Pakistan did recover to 159-8 against India, but failed to chase 131 against Zimbabwe.

On The Pavilion, Waqar slammed Babar’s approach as a captain, in the presence of fellow panelists, Wasim, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Shoaib Malik: “Humne humesha middle-order pe gussa nikala hain. Sabse aasaan jagah batting ke, woh apne do openers … 14-15 overs khelke aate the. (We always criticise the middle order. In reality, the openers have it the easiest – they bat for 14-15 overs).

“As a captain … you just leave your spot and say, agar Haidar se neeche nahin runs ho rahe hain (if Haider does not get runs down the order) I’ll give him the place where it’s easier. Woh humne kahin par bhi try nahin kiya (We have never tried that), and now we’re suffering. Why do we lose? It’s the way they score runs.”

Wasim, who had been agreeing to everything, now chimed in: “Yeh cheezein start hoti hain top se. Top hain aap ka kaptaan. Agar yeh pata chal jaayen, kaptaan aapka thoda sa…” (These things start from the top, and your captain is at the top. Now, if one gets the feeling that the captain is a bit…)

“Insecure,” helped Waqar.

Wasim agreed: “Kaptaan agar keh rahe, mera score ho gaya, let’s try Haider [Ali] as an opener. Usse yeh pata lagta hai ke kaptaan is ready to sacrifice.” (If a captain tells his teammates that he has got enough runs, let us try Haider as an opener, it sends the message that the captain is willing to sacrifice)

“There is a difference between a captain and a leader. That’s the difference,” added Waqar.

Wasim went on to recall an incident at the Karachi Kings, when he had requested Babar to step down to No.3 in order to accommodate Martin Guptill at the top. Babar had refused, suggesting Guptill replaced Sharjeel Khan, Babar’s opening partner at the franchise, at the top.

“Chhoti chhoti cheezein kaptaan karta hai (sometimes it is these small things that the captain does), the team senses it,” concluded Wasim.

Every word true, apne runs kar lo match middle order jitwaye#BabarOut pic.twitter.com/oDFWXWHZX5

— Zak (@Zakr1a) October 28, 2022

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