Ex-Pakistan cricketer announces Babar Azam's sacking in advance after T20 World Cup 2024 disaster

Former Pakistan women's cricketer Urooj Mumtaz came up with a massive statement related to the current situation of the Men's team. She claimed that Babar Azam is unlikely to continue as the captain and even the board won't hang on to him. 

Babar Azam as the captain of the team has come under serious scanner in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Under his leadership, the team looked clueless in the ongoing tournament and faced an early exit, not making it into the Super 8 stage of the tournament. 

Under the leadership of Babar Azam, Pakistan lost to the USA, which in itself was a big disappointment for the team. They also went on to lose against India and then got eliminated from the tournament, managing just 1 win in the first three games that they played in the tournament. 

Babar Azam was removed as the captain of the team after the ICC World Cup 2023. But after that, he was reappointed as the captain of the team. However, since then nothing has gone his way as he lost a series to New Zealand C, lost a game against Ireland, and then a series against England. 

With the team having a poor campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, there have been a lot of speculations about the future of Babar Azam as the captain of the team. Many feel that he won't continue as the skipper and the latest to join the bandwagon is Urooj Mumtaz. 

Urooj Mumtaz believes that Babar Azam is unlikely to continue as the captain but he is far more important as the batter for the team. She also believes that head coach Gary Kirsten is keen to bring fresh faces to the team. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, she explained: 

"Yeah, I just think with how it's been when he was captain, then he was removed and Shaheen was brought in, he's brought back in. After this performance, I don't think he'd want to continue either. I don't think the board will hang on to him as captain. And Babar Azam, the batsman, is far more important to Pakistan in all three formats. 

"Up the order, then his captaincy, which is left a bit to be desired, again, in all ICC events that we've seen in the recent past. But I think Gary Kirsten is, at least what I can gauge from him so far, is that he wants to move on with a fresher set of players, especially in T20 or maybe even the entire white ball format, both the formats as well." 

 I don't see any leader that can take this team forward from the current lot - Urooj Mumtaz 

Urooj Mumtaz further pointed out how the players in the team didn't agree to take the vice-captaincy and stated that Pakistan needs to get some players whom they should groom as the leader. She stated that from the current lot, no one can take the team forward. She added: 

"The interesting part, again, of how Pakistan prepared, they offered the vice-captaincy, the players said no, and they don't have a vice-captain. What Pakistan will have to do is earmark two or three leaders which they can work on,  hire somebody from the domestic setup coming through and then give a couple of years in running for that leadership. 

Because at the moment, at least in my opinion,  I don't see any leader that can take this team forward from the current lot of 15 that are travelling with the team," she concluded.