Removing Azhar Ali As A Test Captain Would Be Unfair - Shoaib Akhtar

Former Pakistani speedster, Shoaib Akhtar believes that it would be unfair on Azhar Ali to replace him with Babar Azam as Test captain after leading the side in only 9 matches. According to reports earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Board Of Governors (BOG) is expected to appoint Babar Azam as the skipper of the longer format for the tour to New Zealand.

Azhar Ali has captained Pakistan in nine Tests- winning 2 and losing 4 of them. In those 9 games, he averages 37 – less than his career average of 42 – with two centuries. On the other hand, Babar Azam has been in terrific form with the bat in the last couple of years averaging 68. The right-hander has scored four hundreds combined in his last four series- including a 104 and a 97 in Australia.

Disappointing to see players suffer, but the management remains the same: Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar doesn’t concur with PCB’s decision to remove Azhar Ali from Test captaincy. In a video uploaded on his YouTube channel, Akhtar acknowledged the captaincy mistakes Ali did in the Test series in England. However, the team lost only 1 match in a 3 match series.

The former pacer feels that it would be unfair to remove Ali as skipper because of just 1 match and is confident that the batsman will fare better with the bat and in the leadership role.

Shoaib Akhtar in his YouTube video said, “I agree that Azhar [Ali] made a mistake in the second innings of the first Test against England, while fielding, for which he was criticized but to remove him from captaincy, based on that match, would be unfair. I’m sure he will give his 100 percent in the upcoming matches.”

Shoaib Akhtar, who is always vocal about his views, criticized the board and the management. He is disappointed that the players have to suffer but the management remains the same. The 45-year-old also said that Babar is evolving as a limited-overs captain, and he should take the Test captaincy only if it wouldn’t affect his batting.

“It is disappointing to see that it’s always the players who suffer in such a scenario while the management stays the same.

“Babar is evolving as a captain. If Babar believes that he can lead the side in all three formats without jeopardizing his batting form, then he should be made the captain,” Shoaib Akhtar added.

Babar Azam was given the T20I captaincy last year and ODI leadership this year from Sarfraz Ahmed after Pakistan couldn’t reach the semi-finals in the World Cup 2019.

Pakistan won the ODI series by 2-1 against Zimbabwe and are leading the T20I series 2-0 with one game left.

The Men in Green will tour New Zealand for three T20Is starting 10th December, and two Tests commencing December 26th. The PCB will announce a 35 member contingent to travel to New Zealand.

Also Read: Just IN: BCCI Announces Revised Squads For India’s Tour Of Australia