Babar Azam‘s return as Pakistan captain hasn’t been great so far. Babar stepped down as captain after the team’s horrible run in the ODI World Cup 2023 where the Men in Green crashed out of the tournament from the group stage. Shaheen Afridi was named as Pakistan T20 captain and led the team in New Zealand. However, PCB was quick to get Babar back at the helm with T20 world in sight.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reinstated Babar as captain, placing significant expectations on him for the T20 World Cup 2024. However, Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the tournament, including an unexpected loss to the United States, has reignited the debate over Babar’s leadership.
Babar Azam faces massive criticism
Due to recent failures, there is a havoc going around Babar’s captaincy. Many former cricketers including Ahmed Shehzad put harsh comments on a television, making it a central topic of discussion within the cricket community.
“He could not bring any trophy for Pakistan. After that, you have ruined the entire domestic structure; you are such a captain; you cannot unconventionally run the domestic team to bring in your friends. If you cannot do anything, you can at least do this much. Now, you should raise your hands and say that I had all the support. PCB gave me everything, but I could not deliver. I got the players of my choice, but I could not deliver for Pakistan; I am really, really sorry; I am responsible,” Shehzad had said.
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Saqlain Mushtaq comes in support of Babar Azam
Meanwhile, the former spinner Saqlain Mushtaq shared his thoughts on Babar captaincy future, emphasizing the importance of long term planning and internal decision-making. He cautioned brief captaincy as a lesson in the need for consistent leadership.
“Many people are saying that he [Babar Azam] should quit captaincy and play as a regular player. But all these voices are coming from outside, from people who are watching and listening to things from the outside. These are comments from outsiders. We shouldn’t listen to the voices of those outside. The people inside, who are observing the situation from within, should see what’s really going on and decide who is capable of leading the team effectively,” Mushtaq told Cricket Pakistan.
