Pakistan’s dismal performance at the T20 World Cup 2024 has thrown Babar Azam’s captaincy into huge doubts. Knocked out in the group stages after defeats to USA and India, the team has left the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) scrambling for answers.
While Babar was reinstated as white-ball captain just before the World Cup, following a resignation after the 2023 ODI World Cup disappointment, his future seems uncertain. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi acknowledged flaws in the team’s leadership, hinting at “major surgery” after the World Cup debacle.
However, Naqvi emphasized a cautious approach. The decision on Babar’s captaincy hinges on consultations with experts, including former Pakistani cricketers and white-ball coach Gary Kirsten. Naqvi stressed a “measured” approach, avoiding “hasty, angry decisions.“
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What did Mohsin Naqvi say?
Naqvi’s comments place significant weight on the opinions of former Pakistani cricketers. Their insights will be crucial in determining Babar’s fate. The chairman even went as far as saying, “Those former cricketers whose livelihood is not TV channels will take over the system,” Naqvi said to reporters.
“I also felt mistakes were made by Babar Azam. Hasty, angry decisions are harmful. The reasons for the failure of the World Cup have been mentioned in the report of Gary Kirsten. Those former cricketers whose livelihood is not TV channels will take over the system,” Mohsen Naqvi said.
Naqvi acknowledged mistakes made by both the selection committee and Babar himself. He confirmed action against those responsible for the flawed World Cup selection process. Gary Kirsten’s report is expected to shed light on the team’s shortcomings.