Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi took an indirect swipe at star batter Babar Azam while expressing concern over the national team's recent struggles. Naqvi criticized selfish attitudes within Pakistan cricket and added that players need to prioritize team success over individual achievements.
Pakistan's results have declined since the 2023 ODI World Cup. The team suffered group-stage exits at the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025 while also remaining near the bottom of the World Test Championship standings. Naqvi has pushed for major domestic reforms to improve standards.
Mohsin Naqvi criticized the mindset of some senior Pakistan players for putting personal achievements ahead of the team. He suggested that individual-focused performances have hurt Pakistan's progress and contributed to the team's recent struggles on the international stage.
"Some players play for themselves rather than for the country & such attitudes have harmed the team's progress," Mohsin Naqvi said during a media interaction in Pakistan.
Although Naqvi did not mention any player by name, his comments came amid growing criticism of Pakistan's senior cricketers following a series of disappointing results in major international tournaments.
Babar Azam Faces Scrutiny Over Batting Approach
Babar Azam has faced increasing criticism in recent years despite being Pakistan's leading batter of the last decade. Many former players and analysts have questioned his ability to score quickly in high-pressure matches. His ODI strike rate has dropped from 86 to 76 and 77 over the last two years.
Questions have also been raised about Babar's T20I batting. He is the highest run-scorer in T20I history, but his strike rate of 128.02 has often come under scrutiny. Critics believe his scoring rate has sometimes slowed Pakistan's progress, especially when the team needed quick runs.
During Pakistan's Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand, Babar scored 64 runs off 90 balls and finished with a strike rate of 71 while chasing 321. The innings drew heavy criticism and added to the debate over his batting style in major tournaments.
New Contract System Puts Focus on Domestic Performances
Mohsin Naqvi introduced a new central contract system with separate categories for Test, ODI, T20I, and Emerging players. Under the new policy, all players must perform in domestic cricket and prove their fitness before earning a national team call-up. The rule applies to senior players as well, including Babar Azam.
Mohsin Naqvi also warned that players who focus on personal milestones instead of team success could lose their place in the setup. His comments have sparked discussion about the future of some senior players.
Babar was Pakistan's highest run-scorer in the recent ODI series against Australia. He scored 125 runs in three innings at an average of 41.66 as Pakistan won the series 2-1. Shaheen Afridi defended Babar Azam and Pakistan's senior players after the series win over Australia.
Babar scored 69 runs off 94 balls in the first ODI and added a 126-run partnership with Ghazi Ghori during Pakistan's successful chase of 201. In the second ODI, he scored 16 runs off 34 balls before being dismissed lbw. In the series-deciding third ODI, Babar made 40 runs off 59 balls.
Hence then, the article about some players play for themselves rather than the country mohsin naqvi s strong message to babar azam was published today ( ) and is available on cricketaddictor ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( "Some players play for themselves rather than the country" - Mohsin Naqvi's strong message to Babar Azam )
Also on site :
- Marler Clark Urges Parents to Stop Using Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula Amid Multistate Infant Botulism Outbreak -- Product Sold Nationwide at Target
- The 9 Childhood Snacks You Grew Up Eating That Were Quietly Banned
- La generación Z es más renuente al riesgo. Los expertos dicen que eso perjudica sus relaciones amorosas