Pakistan's Drastic Squad Upheaval 'News' To Skipper Babar Azam

Babar: Squad Shake-Up Was "News To Me"

Babar Azam dropped some truth ahead of the decider Test at Edgbaston — the massive squad overhaul was not his call.

The skipper was upfront at the presser tdy: the PCB's drastic reshaping of the squad came as a surprise. After heavy losses at Headingley and Lord's, the board sent seven players home (five of whom have zero Test caps) and added seven more. On top of that, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling chief Umar Gul were both sacked.

Mike Hesson and assistant Ashley Noffke have stepped up to lead the side for this final Test.

"It was news to me. The PCB decided it, so they'll be able to explain better," Babar said.

The Bigger Picture

Series already lost, but the pressure's real for the captain:

- It's been nearly 4 years since his last Test ton

- Pakistan haven't crossed 200 as a team in any of the four innings this series

Looking Forward

Rather than dwell, Babar's pushing the group toward the future:

"We need to forget about past failures and shift focus to the future. It's an opportunity for the new boys — grab it and perform in difficult conditions. That's why we play cricket."

He also stayed quiet on the PCB's Monday inquiry into the squad's "discipline and conduct" while on tour — "No, I have no idea about it."

Now the question is: do the new boys rise to the occasion, or does the pressure crush them? 🏏

Source: Cricketnmore