Atiq-uz-Zaman, the ex-Pakistan keeper, has exposed the growing indiscipline in his country’s cricket team by mentioning a few negatives which were responsible for their disastrous show at the ongoing T20 World Cup in USA and Caribbean Islands.
The team led by Babar-Azam made an unpleasant exit from the tournament at the group stage after being trounced by USA and India on narrow margins.
The sudden and bizarre elimination from the World Cup resulted in heavy criticism of this team that exposed Pakistan’s cricket administration as well as alleged groupism within its own camp.
Pakistan’s former wicketkeeper Atiq-uz-Zaman who posted some videos online accused his former teammates of indiscipline claiming that several people were traveling just to enjoy free rides with the national squad.
“Tu kya kehraha hai. Humare samay mein coach hota tha aur unke saath manager hota tha – yehi system chalta tha,” he disclosed to Atiq.
“Ab aaapke 17 log hain officals mein aur 17 players hain, suna hai ke aapne 60 kamre book karvaye hue the (you have 17 officials and 17 players; it’s being said you booked 60 rooms). That’s a joke! Have you gone there to play cricket or to holiday?”
Atiq further questioned families accompaying players for an important tournament.
“Why do you allow families in big events?…Begum, jaan nahi chhodti; aapne aadat bana di hai, begum ko saath le ke ghoomne ki aadat hai (you have made it a habit to travel with wife on tours). They go out in the evening and focus shifts from cricket. They focus on family, kids, wife…Takeaways pe khana kha rahe hote hain…aur wahan pe unki movieyan chal rahi hoti hain (they are eating at takeaway joints and are being captured on videos there),” said Atiq who featured in one Test and three ODIs for Pakistan.
Players still aren’t responsible despite so much money spent by the Pakistan Cricket Board to take care of them.
“Such a culture has been created in Pakistan cricket that nobody knows what is discipline…You have gone to play such a big event, where is your focus?…Can’t you leave everything else and focus on cricket alone for two weeks? You are being paid crores annually,” he concluded.
The 2009 T20 World Cup winners could only manage third place in Group A, which was topped by India. USA were runners-up.
Top two teams from each of the four groups progressed to the ‘Super 8s’.
