"Babar Azam shouldn't have accepted captaincy, his resignation will cost Pakistan cricket"- Alarm bells ring
Published - 03 Oct 2024, 10:34 AM | Updated - 03 Oct 2024, 11:35 PM
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Rashid Latif opened up about star batter Babar Azam resigning as white-ball captain of the national cricket team. Rashid Latif said that Babar Azam should not have accepted white-ball captaincy after being removed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last year.
Babar Azam announced his resignation from the white-ball captaincy via a social media post on Wednesday, October 2. His decision comes when the national team is struggling across all formats. It is the second time the ace batter has stepped down from captaincy of the Pakistan cricket team.
The 29-year-old batter had initially stepped down as captain after Pakistan's poor performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Shaheen Afridi replaced him as T20I captain but was later removed by the PCB. Babar was reappointed as captain in April in preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
PCB's decision to reappoint Babar as captain did not pay off, as the team faced a disappointing exit in the group stage. The Men in Green lost to the United States of America (USA) in their first match. Following this poor performance, there were growing speculations about Babar's future as captain.
Babar Azam Should Not Have Accepted Captaincy Again - Rashid Latif
Rashid Latif criticized Babar Azam's decision to take up the captaincy again. Latif said that Pakistan cricket is in a "leadership crisis," adding that it is in the ICU with no specialist for treatment. He added that Babar’s late resignation hurt both his form and the team's performance.
"It's a leadership crisis. Pakistan cricket is in the ICU with no specialist for treatment," Latif told AFP.
"He should not have accepted captaincy again. Neither the team was performing nor was he scoring big. This resignation has come very late and that has not only cost him badly, but also the team," he added.
Babar resigned before the Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to take place in February-March. The batter cited the need to concentrate on his batting. Pakistan will need to appoint a new skipper for the Champions trophy. Pakistan hasn't played an ODI match since World Cup 2023.
PCB Had Backed Babar Azam As The White-Ball Captain
On Wednesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced that the national selection committee would find Babar's successor. The PCB added that Babar believes focusing on his batting will allow him to contribute more to the team's success.
“Although the PCB had backed Babar Azam as the white-ball captain, his decision to step down reflects his desire to focus more on making a greater impact as a player," a PCB statement said.
“This decision is a testament to his professionalism and commitment to Pakistan cricket. He believes that dedicating himself fully to his batting will enable him to play a more decisive role in the team’s success in the shorter formats."
