Pakistan cricket team is all set to witness yet another overhaul after their disastrous T20 World Cup campaign. Babar Azam and co. are in the radar of the PCB and a slew of changes – not uncommon in Pakistan after losing a big tournament – are expected to be rolled out as the PCB will attempt damage control.
Captaincy change could be the biggest point of discussion for PCB. But is it wise for Pakistan to once again shun Babar Azam from captaincy duties? Numbers say so otherwise.
Why Babar Azam should remain Pakistan captain
Babar Azam has arguably been Pakistan’s best skipper in the shortest format of the game. In 84 matches, the Pakistan captain has led to the side to 47 victories. In T20 World Cup alone, Babar has led the side to victory in 10 out of the 16 games that he has captained the side for.
| Player | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | %W | %L |
| Babar Azam | 85 | 48 | 29 | 1 | 7 | 56.47 | 34.11 |
| Shadab Khan | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 | 66.66 |
| Qasim Akram | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 | 66.66 |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 80 |
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No other contemporary player, including the likes of Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi or Shadab Khan, can match the experience that Babar possesses when it comes to leading the side from the front. Pakistan attempted to take a new route by appointing Shaheen Afridi as the T20I skipper earlier this year. However, they did a quick U-turn as T20 World Cup was around the corner and passed the baton back to Babar Azam after just one series.
What does Babar Azam think of captaincy change?
He was first removed from the role after Pakistan’s first-round loss in the World Cup 2023, but was handed back the reigns of the team after Shaheen Afridi lost a series vs New Zealand 1-4. Nonetheless, Babar has left the decision to the PCB.
“When I left captaincy (previously), I felt that I shouldn’t be captain any more and announced it myself. When PCB gave it back, that was their decision. Now we’ll go back and have a discussion about what all has happened here. If I leave captaincy again then I will inform everyone. For now, I haven’t thought about it and the decision is up to PCB,” he said.
