Shruti Suman
The Pakistan Cricket Board has given a significant indication that the fate of skipper Babar Azam’s captaincy may be in jeopardy if the team’s performance in the ongoing World Cup does not improve. Pakistan finds itself in a must-win situation against a formidable South African team in Chennai on Friday. Another loss would almost certainly dash their hopes of reaching the semifinals, as they have suffered three consecutive defeats in their five matches thus far.
Addressing the media scrutiny surrounding captain Babar Azam and the team management, the board’s stance aligns with that of former cricketers. They acknowledge that both successes and defeats are part and parcel of the game. The PCB stated, “Captain Babar Azam and Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq were granted autonomy and support in forming the squad for the ICC World Cup 2023.”
Looking forward, the board will make decisions in the best interest of Pakistan cricket based on the team’s performance in the World Cup. At this moment, the PCB encourages fans, former players, and stakeholders to stand behind the team as they strive for a triumphant comeback in this prestigious tournament.
Pakistan has accrued four points from five matches, suffering losses to arch-rivals India, Australia, and Afghanistan consecutively. Calls for Babar’s removal as the 50-over captain have intensified, especially after a shocking eight-wicket loss to Afghanistan in Chennai.
A reliable source with insights into developments had said earlier, “Babar can only hope to retain his captaincy if Pakistan stages a miracle and wins all their remaining matches to qualify for the World Cup semifinals. Even then, he might be considered for captaincy only in the red-ball format.”
Reportedly, discussions are underway about potential candidates to replace Babar as captain when the national team returns home from the World Cup, with Sarfaraz Ahmed, Muhammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi being mentioned.
Pakistan is scheduled to tour Australia immediately after the World Cup, and plans need to be made for the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. A growing consensus within the PCB suggests that Babar has had his opportunity to prove himself as captain and has not lived up to expectations.
The PCB acknowledges the concerns of cricket fans back home, urging them to continue supporting Babar Azam and the entire Pakistan cricket team during the World Cup. The board expressed optimism that the team will regroup, overcome setbacks, and perform positively in the remaining fixtures of the round-robin stage.
Khushi Sikarwar
