Former Mohammad Yousuf has disclosed that he stepped down from his position following a disagreement regarding the handling of Babar Azam in the national cricket team.
Yousuf explained that he had suggested giving Babar a break during a period of poor form, believing it would allow the batter to focus on improving his technique. According to him, his recommendation was not accepted, prompting him to offer his resignation.
“There was a time when Babar was not in form. I suggested that he be given rest so that he could work on his technique. But everyone turned against me,” Yousuf said. “I said I would resign and you can do whatever you want.”
He further stated that Babar’s batting performance had been inconsistent for nearly three years and that technical adjustments were necessary. Yousuf proposed sending the former captain to a cricket academy to refine his skills before returning to the national side.
The former captain added that his resignation was initially rejected, but after submitting it multiple times, it was ultimately accepted.
Yousuf had previously criticized the national squad following Pakistan’s loss to India, highlighting senior players, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan, suggesting they had reached the end of their tenure. He emphasized that Pakistan’s T20 team required fresh talent rather than relying on victories against weaker opponents.
