"It's not only Babar's fault" - Pakistan legend claims Babar Azam cried after loss to Afghanistan in 2023 World Cup

Former Pakistan batter Mohammad Yousuf has thrown his weight behind current skipper Babar Azam after their defeat to Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup match in Chennai on Monday.

Yousuf was disappointed and shocked to hear about the reports that Babar was crying after the shock eight-wicket loss to Afghanistan. He feels the responsibility of the loss shouldn't just be all taken by the captain as he believes the entire team made mistakes.

Speaking on a Pakistani TV show, here's what Mohammad Yousuf had to say about Babar Azam:

"I heard Babar cried after the defeat against Afghanistan last night. It's not only Babar's fault, the entire team and management is involved. We are with Babar in this tough time and the entire nation is with him."

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Babar Azam admits Pakistan bowled and fielded poorly

After the loss to Afghanistan, Babar Azam opened up in the post-match presentation about the mistakes that the Pakistan players committed in the field. He accepted that the standards of bowling and even fielding needed to be much better than what was on display.

On this, he stated:

"This hurts us. We had a good total. In the bowling, we aren't up to the mark because we are not taking wickets in the middle overs. In the World Cup, if you are not good in even one department, then you'll lose the match. In the field, we didn't stop boundaries and gave away runs, that cost us. Bowling - we started well, in the middle overs, we needed wickets but we couldn't take any wickets.

"All credit to Afghanistan the way they played in all three departments. That's why they won. We are not playing good cricket in bowling and fielding."

Pakistan will face South Africa on Friday, October 27, in what could well be a make-or-break game for them.