‘I thought I was kidnapped’- Former Pakistan pacer ruminates landing back in Pakistan after World Cup 1996 loss, says Babar Azam got off easy

Pakistan cricket is currently undergoing a challenging period. Following a disappointing performance in the ODI Cricket World Cup 2023, where the Babar Azam-led team secured a fifth-place finish out of the 10 participating teams, the team is going through severe criticism from all fronts.

Former stars of the Pakistan cricket team have been critical, expressing dissatisfaction not only with the coaching staff but also targeting Pakistan's skipper, Babar Azam. As it has been in Pakistan whenever the team fails in a global tournament the captain is the one who mainly bears the brunt and this time it has also been the same.

Aquib Javed calls the reaction mild

Nonetheless, according to former Pakistan cricket team pacer Aquib Javed, the criticism faced by the current Pakistan cricket team is relatively mild compared to the challenges encountered by earlier teams. The ace Pakistan pacer remembered his time when he came back after losing to India in the quarter-finals of the World Cup of 1996 and the harsh reactions he had to face upon landing back home.

"Can we not criticize a team even after they return home following a loss? These players are fortunate. In 1996, based on my personal experience, we were genuinely fearful as we returned from India. At the airport, we couldn't even reach the security personnel, and we wondered how we would make it home. There were instances of stone-pelting, attempts to set our house on fire, and efforts to destroy our property. I even got hit with tomatoes and rotten eggs," Aquib Javed recounted on Suno News.

"As I exited the airport and headed towards the bus, I noticed people running toward me. The bus started moving, and then a jeep pulled up. Three or four individuals got out and ushered me inside. I thought I was being kidnapped. Fortunately, it turned out to be my cousin, who happened to be in the police. He was aware that such incidents might occur and found amusement in my alarmed state. When the current team returned, thankfully, nothing of that magnitude transpired."

The team's disappointing showing in India has led to a split within the cricket community in the nation regarding the decision to retain Babar as captain or explore alternative options. Notable figures endorsing him include the former chairman of PCB, Ramiz Raja, and ex-all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who, at first, suggested that pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was prepared to take on the role of Pakistan captain.