[EXCLUSIVE] "Dropping Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan was a wrong decision": Mudassar Nazar

[BouncerGuy]

In this exclusive interview, Pakistan legend Mudassar Nazar—the “Golden Arm” of cricket—gives his no-holds-barred views on Pakistan’s cricketing challenges. The former all-rounder, coach, and NCA director opens up on player mismanagement, flawed workload theories, the decline of first-class cricket, and Pakistan’s chances at the upcoming Asia Cup.

Key topics covered:

• PCB's Criticism Culture: He highlighted that "PCB bashing has become a great sport," indicating that some ex-players seem to want Pakistan to lose to criticize the team and the PCB further.
  
  
• Pakistan’s Underdog Spirit: He expressed satisfaction with Pakistan's "much-needed win" against Afghanistan in the tri-series, showcasing their potential as underdogs.
  
  
• UAE Cricket Boom: He noted the rapid rise of cricket in the UAE, stating that the number of clubs has increased from 12 to 65, reflecting a significant growth in the sport.
  
  
• Asia Cup Preview: He noted that the toss could play a significant role in the Asia Cup, highlighting the importance of conditions, dew, and spin in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
  
  
• India vs Pakistan - The Real Blockbuster: Remarked that the India-Pakistan rivalry generates more funds than the Ashes, highlighting its significance in cricket.
  
  
• Dropping Babar & Rizwan: Criticized the decision to drop Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, calling it a "wrong decision made on a false premise."
  
  
• Fast Bowling Workload Myth: He argued that the issue with modern fast bowlers breaking down is due to a lack of workload, not an excess, challenging common beliefs.
  
  
• Coaching Debate: Pointed out that there are "too many coaches, not enough cricket," suggesting that players are being pampered rather than developed through play.
  
  
• About Mike Hesson as a coach: Described Mike Hesson as "a first-class coach" but emphasized that he needs time to implement his strategies effectively.

Watch the full interview with Saj here:

 

[Asad T]

I agree with most of what he said, except the inclusion of Riz-Bar

Their Sr's are about 110 in the Power Play overs. Clearly a liability in modern cricket. If they prove they can play faster and more selfless cricket, they should certainly come back. But for now, I think our batting line-up looks ok

 

[cricketAXEpert]

It too late for any changes, in fact it is Show time now. Can Pakistan win against India? The batting order isn't convincing at all, beating Club level amateurs like Oman or UAE will only give a false sense of accomplishment. Bowling isn't any special as well. If we lose to India it will be back to square one. let's if Pakistan's Modern cricket is any good or just worse than it's old cricket?

 

[jnaveen1980]

Rizwan is a limited batsman. last 2 years or so T20 cricket has gone a notch above in terms of big hitting. ON the other hand Babar may come back once the current lot fails. Farhan looked like protecting his place and playing slowly today. That mentality will slowly but surely creep into this set up as well once they start losing matches more regularly against big teams and you are the culprit. That is just a human mentality. Right now Saim is saving his palce due to his bowling. THere may be a time when his bowling goes off color he will be under pressure to score runs with bat.

 

[Bewal Express]

Both are too negative and somehow tried to take on the burden of PK cricket on their shoulders and became useless with their inertia. Dropping was deserved

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Both are too negative and somehow tried to take on the burden of PK cricket on their shoulders and became useless with their inertia. Dropping was deserved

But dropping them for whom? Lord Haris Bradman and Saim Gayle Ayub?

 

[Bewal Express]

But dropping them for whom? Lord Haris Bradman and Saim Gayle Ayub?

That's the problem. We have no talent that is any good. Our great hope Saim has gone missing and the other guys are about much use as a photo fit in China

 

[Savak]

That's the problem. We have no talent that is any good. Our great hope Saim has gone missing and the other guys are about much use as a photo fit in China

Talent alone isn't enough if you don't have the mental fortitude on the big stage. Saim is the top limited overs prospect from Pakistan's domestic system for the past 2-3 years and he got out like a school boy to an innocuous Pandya delivery. Saim because of his talent has been been given an extraordinary lengthy rope in comparison to other unlucky players who get booted after 1-2 failures

 

[pakistani pride]

What difference does it make?
Those 2 could not chase 120 vs India and on top of that act like little girls after losing games, begging for pictures.

 

[imran1976]

with whom they got replaced, nobody.
if you have found replacements, than drop.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Replacement is still yet to be found... Our current lot is even worse than the old guys.. Ducks upon ducks and desperately trying to turn saim into a bowler is not gonna work..

Haris was pathetic as usual.. He needs minnows to score runs; otherwise, he is club club-level cricketer. even worse, actually.

 

[rpant_gabba]

Agree with this. Bring back RizBar.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Rizwan is a limited batsman. last 2 years or so T20 cricket has gone a notch above in terms of big hitting. ON the other hand Babar may come back once the current lot fails. Farhan looked like protecting his place and playing slowly today. That mentality will slowly but surely creep into this set up as well once they start losing matches more regularly against big teams and you are the culprit. That is just a human mentality. Right now Saim is saving his palce due to his bowling. THere may be a time when his bowling goes off color he will be under pressure to score runs with bat.

Saim is a different talent as compared to the others in that side. I'm not worried about him.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Saim is a different talent as compared to the others in that side. I'm not worried about him.

Not in T20 Not many in history have done well across multiple formats. Saim in T20 looks a hit or miss. He is playing at one of the easiest batting position in T20. No pressure. Field up. So his returns are poor.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Not in T20 Not many in history have done well across multiple formats. Saim in T20 looks a hit or miss. He is playing at one of the easiest batting position in T20. No pressure. Field up. So his returns are poor.

The kind of knocks he has already played in T20 like the 98 against South Africa, guys like Babar and Rizwan haven't played in their entire lives. He is a proper 360 degree player. Just because he hasn't found his feet in international cricket doesn't mean he isn't talented or doesn't have a bright future

 

[jnaveen1980]

The kind of knocks he has already played in T20 like the 98 against South Africa, guys like Babar and Rizwan haven't played in their entire lives. He is a proper 360 degree player. Just because he hasn't found his feet in international cricket doesn't mean he isn't talented or doesn't have a bright future

That attack barely resembled even second string attack of SA.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

That attack barely resembled even second string attack of SA.

It's not about the attack, it's about the kind of shots he played in that match. You can always tell the talent a player possesses by looking at the kind of shots they are able to play. He played some stunning shots off Starc, Hazelwood and Cummins in Australia too. Anyways it's pointless to debate this any further since my opinion is based on belief rather than numbers or stats.

 

[jnaveen1980]

It's not about the attack, it's about the kind of shots he played in that match. You can always tell the talent a player possesses by looking at the kind of shots they are able to play. He played some stunning shots off Starc, Hazelwood and Cummins in Australia too. Anyways it's pointless to debate this any further since my opinion is based on belief rather than numbers or stats.

Those are different formats. In T20 he has played a significantly higher number of matches

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Those are different formats. In T20 he has played a significantly higher number of matches

He just hasn't cracked it yet in this format. But I'm sure he will

 

[zahid01]

I believe saim has ability to be successful in this format he is in terrible form at the moment he needs a good knock to get some confidence back this is a an ideal match against arch rivals to stand up and be counted

 

[jnaveen1980]

He just hasn't cracked it yet in this format. But I'm sure he will

How many great all format players are out there in history. I mean equally good. very few. Kohli, Warner. Not even AB was good in T20. He couldn't crack quiet well at the international level. Gayle. Rohit (ODI/T20), QDK (ODI/T20), Smith (Tests/ODI). Root (Tests/ODI)

 

[Mamoon]

Babar is returning to the T20I squad for the South African series. Finally, sanity has prevailed and PCB have acknowledged their blunder.

It was a complete joke to drop your best batsman. Fakhar/Saim are likely to be the one making way for him.

But but but his T20I career is over @YousafTheBeast

 

[BouncerGuy]

Babar is returning to the T20I squad for the South African series. Finally, sanity has prevailed and PCB have acknowledged their blunder.

It was a complete joke to drop your best batsman. Fakhar/Saim are likely to be the one making way for him.

But but but his T20I career is over @YousafTheBeast

TBH... Khushdil should be dropped

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Babar is returning to the T20I squad for the South African series. Finally, sanity has prevailed and PCB have acknowledged their blunder.

It was a complete joke to drop your best batsman. Fakhar/Saim are likely to be the one making way for him.

But but but his T20I career is over @YousafTheBeast

Another chance to stat pad at home vs South Africa C… how could he not miss out on that.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Another chance to stat pad at home vs South Africa C… how could he not miss out on that.

LOL... So you want 3 ducks in a row kind of batting??

80-90 strike rate type batting???

 

[YousafTheBeast]

LOL... So you want 3 ducks in a row kind of batting??

80-90 strike rate type batting???

You think these players will get 3 ducks in a row at home vs SA C?

Like come on bro.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

It’s almost as if the USA loss never happened or the loss to Zimbabwe or the loss to Afghanistan.

The countless humiliations we faced with those two guys in the team.

But, let’s bring them back because someone got a duck.

 

[GudduBadmash]

Babar would not make much sense since he has not played much T20 cricket recently, the guy they are not bringing back has just had a very decent CPL, joined a struggling team who won a few games thanks to his half centuries too.

 

[Rana]

I will unleash Denyris Targeryan Dragons sacking Kingslanding like vengeance if those two laantis return to the T20 side!

 

[Rana]

Confirm it now!

I need to know if I am supposed to lose interest in this team right now.

I ain’t going to be hopeful to see a new Dawn arising knowing that Pakistan is about to be backstabbed again with the return of those two curses!

 

[jnaveen1980]

I hear the news all over that Babar is returning. Is it true?

 

[Mamoon]

TBH... Khushdil should be dropped

Ideally, it should be the comedian captain but that is not going to happen, so someone else will be sacrificed to protect him.

 

[Mamoon]

I hear the news all over that Babar is returning. Is it true?

Yes.

 

[Mamoon]

It’s almost as if the USA loss never happened or the loss to Zimbabwe or the loss to Afghanistan.

The countless humiliations we faced with those two guys in the team.

But, let’s bring them back because someone got a duck.

They weren’t the biggest contributors to these losses and those who were, are not part of the team anymore, for example Amir.

 

[jnaveen1980]

I saw this line

Hesson himself has never ruled out Babar’s return and may have played a role in the decision to bring him back.

 

[Mamoon]

Confirm it now!

I need to know if I am supposed to lose interest in this team right now.

That will be your greatest service to Pakistan cricket

 

[Mamoon]

I saw this line

Hesson himself has never ruled out Babar’s return and may have played a role in the decision to bring him back.

His software was updated after he received a brutal reality check in this Asia Cup. It is laughable to assert that Babar and Rizwan don’t walk into this team on pure merit.

 

[Mamoon]

Babar would not make much sense since he has not played much T20 cricket recently, the guy they are not bringing back has just had a very decent CPL, joined a struggling team who won a few games thanks to his half centuries too.

Babar is miles better than all the batsmen playing right now even if he doesn’t pick up a bat for a year.

 

[Major]

Babar is in Dubai for an Ad shoot. Nothing else is confirmed yet. Its unfair on Hussain Talat and Hassan Nawaz though, because one of them will be forced to make way

 

[jnaveen1980]

Saim Ayub has one more chance to seal his spot. If he fails here Babar might return for sure

 

[Local.Dada]

Babar is the only guy in Pakistan who can hit a good ball for boundary. I am sure Md. Haris can too if he slogs blindly and connects but I am speaking more from pure technique. He is not a T20 specialist but a guy you can build your batting line up around. You don’t cut your face to spite the nose. That’s what happened here.

when it comes to Rizwan- only in Pakistan where winning in Australia and SA is considered the ultimate benchmark but you a drop a captain who wins a series there. Explain this insanity? As a player he is excellent white ball cricketer and probably top 5 non-Indian loi WK- bats in the world.

 

[Mamoon]

Babar is in Dubai for an Ad shoot. Nothing else is confirmed yet. Its unfair on Hussain Talat and Hassan Nawaz though, because one of them will be forced to make way

Him being in Dubai has nothing to do with it. He will return for the home series vs South Africa.

 

[Mamoon]

Babar is the only guy in Pakistan who can hit a good ball for boundary. I am sure Md. Haris can too if he slogs blindly and connects but I am speaking more from pure technique. He is not a T20 specialist but a guy you can build your batting line up around. You don’t cut your face to spite the nose. That’s what happened here.

when it comes to Rizwan- only in Pakistan where winning in Australia and SA is considered the ultimate benchmark but you a drop a captain who wins a series there. Explain this insanity? As a player he is excellent white ball cricketer and probably top 5 non-Indian loi WK- bats in the world.

Pakistan’s batting is too weak for them to move on from Babar and Rizwan. Thats the reality whether anyone likes it or not.

 

[Major]

Him being in Dubai has nothing to do with it. He will return for the home series vs South Africa.

I thought he was being considered for Asia cup, just saw the South Africa series news. Thats fair than. The batting line up without him hasnt really lit up the sky, however, he needs to bat in the middle overs and not as an opener in t20 cricket

 

[Mamoon]

I thought he was being considered for Asia cup, just saw the South Africa series news. Thats fair than. The batting line up without him hasnt really lit up the sky, however, he needs to bat in the middle overs and not as an opener in t20 cricket

He should bat at 3.

 

[zaidihusain]

Going back to Babar & Rizwan will end up in disaster and the team instead of going forward will go backward. The new players should continue for another 1 year atleast

 

[Farabi]

They weren’t the biggest contributors to these losses and those who were, are not part of the team anymore, for example Amir.

Interesting framing—saying they weren’t the biggest contributors to the losses. Well, they also weren’t the biggest contributors in us actually winning those games either.

 

[GudduBadmash]

Babar is miles better than all the batsmen playing right now even if he doesn’t pick up a bat for a year.

You are right, I am just saying that Rizwan has actually played some T20 recently, If anything it highlights there is a severe agenda against him within the PCB