"It's not a scapegoat this time, they said they will cut the GOAT itself" - Aakash Chopra on Babar Azam being dropped for last 2 PAK vs ENG 2024 Tests

Aakash Chopra has questioned Pakistan's decision to drop Babar Azam after a harrowing loss in the first Test against England in Multan. He pointed out that India's western neighbors have dropped their so-called GOAT while trying to find a scapegoat.

Babar scored 35 runs across his two innings in Pakistan's innings defeat in the first Test. The former skipper has been left out of the squad for the remaining two Tests of the three-match series.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener noted that Babar has been sacrificed in an attempt to find scapegoats.

"It was a hugely publicized loss, a loss which became historic, and there was an interesting stat that whichever team got all out for 556 runs in this century lost. So when you lose after scoring 556, there is a lot of backlash, and then scapegoats are found," he said (1:55).

"It's not a scapegoat this time, they said they will cut the GOAT itself because if we talk about Pakistan, Babar Azam's reputation was made and enhanced like a GOAT player. It used to be said that the king would do it but the runs weren't getting scored, there is no doubt about that," Chopra added.

Chopra acknowledged that Babar hasn't scored a fifty in his last 18 Test innings. He pointed out that a 161-run knock against New Zealand in Karachi in December 2022 was the last time the stylish batter reached the 50-run mark.

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"You cannot score runs or regain your form by sitting outside" - Aakash Chopra on Babar Azam's omission

Babar Azam has an overall Test average of 43.92.

In the same video, Aakash Chopra questioned whether Pakistan have a better player than Babar Azam who can replace him, and whether the out-of-form batter can regain his form without playing.

"My question is when you drop him and bring someone else in, is he better than him? That's the first question. The second question is that you cannot score runs or regain your form by sitting outside. Was it the right time or since the public outcry was so much, you said that you had to make someone a scapegoat?" he said (3:15).

However, the cricketer-turned-commentator added that Babar Azam's omission cannot be compared with the continued faith shown in Virat Kohli during the latter's lean run.

"Some people are comparing and saying that India didn't drop Virat. Let's not compare. Babar Azam was going in Virat Kohli's path but that road is far. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah can afford a longer lean patch, and they are contributing even in their lean patch," Chopra reasoned.

Chopra concluded by opining that Babar's omission is a slightly knee-jerk reaction to keep everyone happy. He noted that Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah have also been dropped and questioned the latter's omission, highlighting that he bowled decently in the first Test.