Pakistan have had a tough few months, being eliminated from the group stages of both the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup and more recently the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.
Shocking losses in the opening two matches against hosts USA and arch rivals India have meant captain Babar Azam has come under intense scrutiny.
To add insult to injury, arch rivals India went on to win the tournament undefeated for the first time in its history.
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Babar and team have been subjected to unprecedented vilification in the past few days and things may get even worse for the Pakistan captain as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) president Mohsin Naqvi is set to meet white-ball coach Gary Kirsten to discuss possible changes following the T20 World Cup disaster.
Pakistan’s main focus now is preparing for the return of the ICC Champions Trophy to their home turf in February 2025.
Read more: Will Rohit Sharma captain India in the Champions Trophy 2025?
Will Babar Azam continue as Pakistan captain?
Based on Naqvi’s statement, Babar’s captaincy is not under threat for now but considering the criticism he has received over his performance and leadership abilities, it may not be long before the chairman and coach reconsider the inevitable.
Naqvi told Geo News:
However, no decision has been taken so far regarding Babar Azam. I am only speaking to former cricketers who are interested in the improvement of Pakistan cricket.
Babar’s leadership skills have been questioned not only by fans and the media but also by former players. Legendary pacer Wasim Akram was highly critical of the team’s performance in the T20 World Cup and has called for a complete revamp of the squad. According to Akram, the atmosphere in the dressing room has been ruined by some of the veteran players and major changes are needed in all aspects.
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