Pakistan national cricket team captain Babar Azam returned to Lahore from Dubai via a private airline following the World Cup debacle in India.
Babar Azam was accompanied by other staff of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) at Lahore airport in the wee hours of Monday. On this occasion, the fans who gathered to welcome the skipper chanted slogans in favour of the team.
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The players and management staff were also welcomed by their families. The players were escorted to their vehicles under strict security.
Some of the fans also had the opportunity to take selfies with their cricket heroes.
– Bowling performance not at par –
The Pakistan skipper admitted on Saturday that the team’s bowling performance was not at par.
Expressing his thoughts after Pakistan were crushed by England, Babar Azam said: “The defeat against England has brought disappointment in the dressing room.’’
He made it clear that the meetings will be held to underscore the good and bad performances that transpired during the team’s entire World Cup campaign.
– Arthur backs Babar Azam –
Pakistan's team director Mickey Arthur on Saturday rallied behind skipper Babar Azam following the World Cup’s debacle against England at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday.
Speaking about his future plans, Arthur mentioned, "I'll just go back to the Peak District in Derbyshire; I'll be really happy, and that'll be okay." He defended his dual role with Derbyshire and Pakistan, which was criticised by some former players as "coaching on Zoom."
With Pakistan out of the semi-final race, Arthur expressed confidence in under-fire skipper Babar Azam, stating, "Babar is very, very close to me. He's a young guy that needs to be taken on the journey. He needs to be shown the ropes. He's still learning all the time and is growing."
