‘Were you here to sell chickpeas?’: Akram takes aim at Babar

Pakistan cricket is never too far away from a crisis.

The recent 3-0 Test series whitewash in England has only deepened the turmoil, and, as always, former Pakistan cricketers have not been shy about weighing in.

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Legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram has joined the chorus with some sharp, tongue-in-cheek remarks aimed at Babar Azam after the Pakistan captain admitted he was unaware of the overhaul made by the Pakistan Cricket Board following the second Test.

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For a team that has now lost 16 of its last 21 Tests, it was a chaotic tour, capped by the decision to replace seven players in the squad after the second Test and sack coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and his assistant Umar Gul.

Taking the stage alongside Waqar Younis at a charity fundraiser in Manchester, the Sultan of Swing didn't hold back, brutally roasting Babar’s bewildered post-match excuses.

Recalling the episode, Akram sarcastically questioned Babar's role as captain if he was unaware of such major decisions.

“Babar Azam said he did not know. If you don’t know, then what were you doing here? Were you here to sell chickpeas?” Akram said sarcastically.

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“As a player or as a person, I believe that if your leader or captain does not stand by you, you cannot give 100%,” he added.

Akram suggested Babar should have stepped away from the captaincy after the second Test and continued in the series purely as a player.

“My suggestion is that after the second Test, Babar should have said that he would play only as a player,” he added.

Babar was appointed Pakistan's Test captain on July 5, replacing Shan Masood, ahead of the team's tours of the West Indies and England. He had previously led Pakistan in Test cricket from 2020 to 2023, overseeing 20 matches, with 10 wins, six defeats and four draws.

Under his returning leadership, Pakistan drew their two-Test series in the West Indies 1-1 before suffering a 3-0 series defeat in England.

Pakistan's next Tests are against Sri Lanka in a two-match home series in November.