KARACHI: Former Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has strongly criticised the current Pakistan team management, alleging that star batter Babar Azam was “publicly humiliated” and unfairly treated during his recent struggles in form and leadership.
In a candid interview with a local sports platform, Ajmal — who also served as Pakistan’s spin coach — stressed that the role of a coaching staff is to build confidence in players, not to undermine them publicly.
“When a team moves forward, the role of the coaches is to instil confidence in the players. It is not their job to teach them everything,” Ajmal explained. “If a player is going through a tough phase, the coach should guide him on how to overcome it.”
The 48-year-old expressed concern over how Babar Azam was criticised by management and the media, claiming that the former captain was made to feel undervalued.
“Babar Azam was let down to such an extent that it was openly said he was not the kind of player needed in T20Is. If you don’t value your players, how will they ever grow?” Ajmal questioned.
Ajmal also drew comparisons between Azam and other Pakistani T20 players, arguing that his performances have been unfairly scrutinised.
“Have you seen any player in our team play T20 cricket differently or with a better strike rate than Babar Azam? Yet he was publicly criticised to the point he couldn’t cope with the pressure,” he added.
The former off-spinner further criticised the team’s inconsistent selection policies, saying that frequent changes and player recalls have created confusion and insecurity in the squad.
“First they remove players, then bring them back out of compulsion when no one else performs. This shows a complete lack of planning,” he said.
Addressing Babar’s captaincy removal and workload management, Ajmal claimed that the management’s decisions have only increased pressure on the star batter.
“You removed him from captaincy and then gave him rest — what kind of message is that? If a player is performing, why rest him?” Ajmal questioned.
He also took a swipe at former head coach Mike Hesson, criticising his strategy of shuffling the playing XI to create internal competition.
“Hesson’s mindset is to create competition by changing the lineup constantly, but that doesn’t work in Pakistan. Our players lose confidence when dropped,” Ajmal explained.
Ajmal’s remarks highlight growing frustration among former players and fans regarding the Pakistan Cricket Board’s handling of senior cricketers, particularly after the team’s recent inconsistent performances across formats.
