In a shocking turn of events, Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam is set to file a defamation case against several journalists and former players who accused him of match-fixing during the T20 World Cup 2024. Among the accused is prominent journalist Mubashir Luqman. This move comes in the wake of Pakistan’s disastrous performance in the tournament, where they were eliminated before the Super Eight stage.
Pakistan, placed in Group A, had a horrendous run, losing to India and the USA and managing victories only against Canada and Ireland. This poor showing led to a massive backlash from fans and critics alike. Babar, who was reappointed as the white-ball captain ahead of the World Cup, replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi in the T20I format, has been at the center of this controversy.
Babar’s reappointment as captain came after he was forced to resign following the 2019 World Cup in India. Under new management at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Babar was given another chance to lead the team in the shorter formats. However, his inability to turn the team’s fortunes around has now led to further scrutiny and allegations.
The frustration among the fans and media has been palpable, with many seeking justice for Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was given only one international series before being replaced due to the management’s preference for an experienced captain for the World Cup. The entire squad underperformed, which added fuel to the ongoing propaganda against Azam.
In response to these developments, Babar Azam has removed the title of ‘Pakistan captain’ from his social media profiles and is reportedly set to be demoted from Category A in the upcoming central contracts. Before the World Cup, Pakistan also faced setbacks, losing series to England and a depleted New Zealand side and managing a narrow 2-1 series win against Ireland despite the final match loss.
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