PAK vs ENG: Babar Azam Fight With Security Officials

Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan, stayed off the field for the first hour of the second day of the third Test match against England, ostensibly in protest of onerous security measures for the athletes and their families.

Babar reportedly lost his cool on Saturday night after he was denied permission to leave the team hotel and join some other squad members and their families for dinner. Babar Azam and his family were supposed to eat dinner with Sarfaraz Ahmed, Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, and Imam-ul-Haq at a neighboring restaurant.

Security personnel kept him from leaving his hotel room and made it clear that he and other players needed to acquire permission before making any moves, despite the fact that the two teams are receiving President level security for the series against England. The captain stormed back to his room after getting into an argument with a senior official about the security measures, calling them intrusive.

PCB Gives Headache As An Excuse For Babar Azam’s Unavailability

He reportedly refused to take the squad outside for an hour on Sunday in protest at the security officers’ conduct. He apparently chose to remain in the changing room.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on the other hand, has remained largely silent over the incident; however, the official justification provided is that Babar had a nasty headache when he arrived at the stadium and was unable to play for the first hour.

President-level protection is being provided for both Pakistan and England throughout the series because England is making its first visit to Pakistan for a Test series in 17 years. Unwilling to take any chances, the PCB.

The players, according to insiders, are reportedly sick of the constant security that surrounds them and forbids them from leaving the team hotel without permission.

“It is for their own good and Pakistan cricket,” one PCB source.

It seems reasonable to have strict security measures for the visiting squad, but it feels unjust to the Pakistani players, according to people close to the players.