Pakistan finished 5th in a 10-team table, failing to qualify for the semi-finals, leading to significant criticism from former players. This has resulted in calls for a change in leadership for the team. The focus has now shifted to the future of Babar Azam’s captaincy after a lackluster performance in the Cricket World Cup. The PCB is reportedly contemplating reconsidering Azam’s leadership role.
Former PCB chief Ramiz Raja disclosed that he had a meeting with Azam prior to the match against England, where it became apparent that Azam’s spirits were low. Raja mentioned that Azam seemed very down and that the players are under intense media scrutiny. There are concerns about how the team wants to be led and how they approach white-ball cricket.
Despite presenting his case to the PCB, Azam has received advice from his national teammates not to resign. He is expected to come up with a clear plan of action once he returns home. Azam has a strong and loyal fan base, and players such as Imam ul Haq, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf are particularly close to him.
Babar Azam was appointed as the captain of the Pakistani cricket team for white-ball formats in late 2019, replacing Sarfaraz Ahmed. He also took over the responsibility of leading the team in Test matches in 2021, replacing Azhar Ali. While Azam has achieved success in T20 Internationals, his performance in Tests and ODIs has been lacking.