PAK vs CAN: Babar Azam to step down from his position? Shoaib Malik's jaw-dropping revelation

After asking Babar Azam to quit captaincy of the Pakistani team, Shoaib Malik has asked the batter to come down at number 4 instead of opening the innings. 

Shoaib Malik's comments have come ahead of Pakistan's tie against Canada later tonight at the Nassau County Stadium in New York. it is the same venue wherein the Babar Azam-led Pakistani side lost to India 2 days ago in the most bizarre of fashions. They had the victory in the palm of their hands but they weren't able to finish off the game. 

Pakistan's morale was anyways down following the loss against co-hosts USA in their opening Group A match, the loss against India made matters worse. Every former Pakistani cricketer jumped into the team following the result and gave their two cents about what the team should do next. 

Shoaib Malik wants Saim Ayub to open and Babar Azam to come at number 4

Former batter Shoaib Malik, at first, had asked Babar Azam to step down from captaincy for his own sake. He had claimed that Babar, who is recognized as one of the world's best batters, should give up on the leadership role to be able to showcase his batting talent. That additional responsibility often stops the growth of a batsman and the same has happened to Babar as well. 

If those comments weren't enough, Shoaib Malik has come up with another suggestion for Babar Azam. During his appearance in Ten Sports Pakistan, Malik was put in a hypothetical situation and was asked whom he add in the team after consecutive losses. To that, Malik stated that he would want Saim Ayub to open the innings for the Men in Green. 

Shoaib Malik reasoned that Pakistan would want to increase their strike rate at this point and therefore, Ayub is the best option as he can execute the plans.  

"I will play Saim Ayub and that is because you want to improve your average now, you have to improve your net run rate and for that you need a batsman upfront who can execute the plan and Canada have a few left-arm off-spinners." - Malik said via Ten Sports. 

Malik pleads for Babar to come at 4

Shoaib Malik then said that Pakistan should do something out of the box and for doing so, the best thing, given the conditions, would be to push Babar down. That the team is in a difficult situation and Babar Azam is their captain. So he must try to help the team by playing whatever role the management wants him. 

For that, if he has to come down at number 4, then he should, even if for one match.  

"So if you want to think outside of the box, then make Saim Ayub open. And according to the conditions in New York, I think Babar Azam should play at 4 even if for a match. Put Fakhar Zaman at 3 and him at 4 because you are our captain. So the team requires it, then you should do it." - Shoaib Malik concluded.