The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has backed its decision to rest top players including former skipper Babar Azam, saying that the decision was made in the best interest of Pakistan cricket,
The board’s spokesperson revealed that the players were “spared from the team to give them rest so that they can come back afresh.”
“Babar is our No. 1 player. There’s no question about his technique and ability”, he added.
Including Babar, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah have also been left out.
Expanding on its decision, the PCB spokesperson noted that selecting the squad for the upcoming Tests against England has been a challenging task for the selectors and highlighted that the board had to carefully consider current players’ form, the urgency to bounce back in the series and Pakistan’s demanding 2024-25 international schedule.
He also added that the board is offering opportunities to the youngsters and domestic performers to showcase their skills against a formidable England side.
Pakistan will face England in the second Test of the three-match series which is set to commence on October 15 (tomorrow) in Multan.
Babar Azam leaves captaincy
Earlier, Babar Azam announced his resignation as the captain of Pakistan’s ODI team.
He said, “Dear Fans, I’m sharing some news with you today. I have decided to resign as captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, effective as of my notification to the PCB and Team Management last month.”
“By stepping down, I will gain clarity moving forward and focus more energy on my game and personal growth,” wrote Babar in a social media post.
