Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf revealed that he had heard currentskipper Babar Azam was emotionally affected after the loss to Afghanistanin the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 match on Monday.
Yousuf expressed his concern for the talented batsman, who currently leadsthe ICC Batting Rankings, and conveyed his support, mentioning that both heand the entire nation stand with Babar during this challenging time.
During the match that occurred on October 23 between Pakistan andAfghanistan, the Afghan team displayed an exceptional performance, securingan eight-wicket victory over the national team.
In the post-match press conference, Babar appeared visibly disappointed anddisheartened as he expressed his concerns. Yousuf, speaking on a private TVchannel, stated, “I carefully watched the press conference in which Babarseemed deeply troubled, and I heard that he shed tears.”
He emphasized that the outcome of a match should not be attributed to oneindividual but should be viewed as a collective effort involving the entireteam and coaching staff.
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The former batsman stressed that Pakistan should rally behind Babar andthe team since they are not yet eliminated from the competition.
Yousuf recognized that losses are a natural part of the game, and it’sessential to provide support during these challenging moments, as everyplayer goes through them.
Yousuf also raised key points for serious discussion, including Pakistan’slow run total against Afghanistan and the performance of their bowlers. Henoted that the team appeared to be playing cautiously, possibly due to afear of losing or losing wickets.