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After the high of reaching the final of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, the Pakistan cricket team has experienced a noticeable decline in their performances at subsequent ICC events. Their journey in the ODI World Cup 2023 in India was a mixed bag, ending without a semifinal berth. However, their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2024 turned out to be especially catastrophic. The T20 World Cup, held in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA), marked a new low for Pakistan cricket. The team not only suffered an unexpected defeat to the United States in the group stage but also failed to advance to the Super Eight.
Babar Azam’s leadership under scrutiny
This dismal performance has brought intense scrutiny on Babar Azam’s captaincy and sparked widespread criticism from fans and analysts alike. In response to these setbacks, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has initiated significant changes aimed at revitalizing the national team. The first step in this overhaul was the removal of Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from the selection committee. This move signals the PCB’s intent to bring fresh energy and perspective into the team’s structure.
Also READ: Pakistan legend Younis Khan names a surprising pick to replace Babar Azam as T20I captain
Salman Butt calls for Pakistan’s captaincy change
Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has been vocal about the need for a change in leadership. Butt has suggested that Shan Masood is the ideal candidate to lead Pakistan across all three formats. On his YouTube channel, Butt criticized the current leadership dynamics and emphasized the necessity for a strategic and less ego-driven approach.
“There is some fuss because of which despite having skill, players haven’t been able to execute. There is someone who doesn’t have any strategy for planning, but still has a lot of attitude. To silence that attitude, I would definitely make Shan Masood the captain.,”
Journey so far as a skipper
Masood was appointed as Pakistan’s Test captain after Babar stepped down from captaincy across all formats following the team’s early exit from the ODI World Cup. Nevertheless, Masood’s tenure began on a challenging note, with Pakistan enduring a 3-0 whitewash against Australia in an away series. Despite this rocky start, Butt believed that Masood possesses the potential to provide a fresh perspective and a strategic approach that could benefit the team.
