NEW DELHI: Amid Pakistan’s early exit from the ongoing T20 World Cup in the Americas, former speedster Shoaib Akhtar feels Babar Azam is not a captaincy material if he does not come down the order and finish matches for the team going forward, he won’t be able to keep his place in ODI and T20I teams.
The 2009 champions and also the finalists of 2007 and 2022 editions, lost to USA and India in their first two group games to exit the tournament even before the Super Eights.
Babar, who earlier relinquished captaincy, was brought back as skipper in March, ahead of the cricketing extravaganza. And since Pakistan’s ouster Babar has been facing massive criticism from former players and fans.
However, Babar has said he hasn’t thought about quitting captaincy again and it is the board’s call.
“Who made Babar Azam captain at first place? Who was the Einstein by the way? I need to know that guy. Did he actually qualify for the job or not? Did he even knew a thing or two about captaincy?, questioned Akhtar.
“I have been saying that Babar is not a captain material. What is going to happen to Babar now? He is going to come down at No.4. He has to finish the games. He has to win the games. If he doesn’t, he will not be able to keep his place in T20s. I am telling you right now. He will not be able to keep his place in ODIs because he has to finish the games. The ‘finisher’ Babar Azam needs to come out. That’s where his character comes out. That’s where the character of Babar Azam is gonna come out. In times to come, that kind of pressure, he needs to take. I am bluntly saying that to Babar, Babar you are going to remain a superstar but start and get to know how to finish the games,” he added.
After Pakistan’s exit, Babar said it was the Pakistan Cricket Board which reinstated him and whether he continues or not, will be their call.
“I have not thought about it. The decision is of the PCB,” he said, asserting that he never asked for a leadership role.
“About the captaincy – when I had left it (after ODI World Cup), I thought that I shouldn’t be doing it now, that’s why I left it and I announced it myself. Then when they gave it back to me, it was the decision of the PCB.”
The PCB is set to revert to its old selection committee system after the experiment of having no chief selector failed miserably during the T20 World Cup and before it.
“The board is likely to return to the old system of having a chief selector with two or three selectors and the captain and head coach not sitting in selection meetings with the selectors,” a source told PTI.
Former Test fast bowler Wahab Riaz, who was part of the selection committee that picked the team for the T20 World Cup, is expected to retain his influential position on the board and might also be appointed the new chief selector.
The 2009 champions and also the finalists of 2007 and 2022 editions, lost to USA and India in their first two group games to exit the tournament even before the Super Eights.
Babar, who earlier relinquished captaincy, was brought back as skipper in March, ahead of the cricketing extravaganza. And since Pakistan’s ouster Babar has been facing massive criticism from former players and fans.
However, Babar has said he hasn’t thought about quitting captaincy again and it is the board’s call.
“Who made Babar Azam captain at first place? Who was the Einstein by the way? I need to know that guy. Did he actually qualify for the job or not? Did he even knew a thing or two about captaincy?, questioned Akhtar.
“I have been saying that Babar is not a captain material. What is going to happen to Babar now? He is going to come down at No.4. He has to finish the games. He has to win the games. If he doesn’t, he will not be able to keep his place in T20s. I am telling you right now. He will not be able to keep his place in ODIs because he has to finish the games. The ‘finisher’ Babar Azam needs to come out. That’s where his character comes out. That’s where the character of Babar Azam is gonna come out. In times to come, that kind of pressure, he needs to take. I am bluntly saying that to Babar, Babar you are going to remain a superstar but start and get to know how to finish the games,” he added.
After Pakistan’s exit, Babar said it was the Pakistan Cricket Board which reinstated him and whether he continues or not, will be their call.
“I have not thought about it. The decision is of the PCB,” he said, asserting that he never asked for a leadership role.
“About the captaincy – when I had left it (after ODI World Cup), I thought that I shouldn’t be doing it now, that’s why I left it and I announced it myself. Then when they gave it back to me, it was the decision of the PCB.”
The PCB is set to revert to its old selection committee system after the experiment of having no chief selector failed miserably during the T20 World Cup and before it.
“The board is likely to return to the old system of having a chief selector with two or three selectors and the captain and head coach not sitting in selection meetings with the selectors,” a source told PTI.
Former Test fast bowler Wahab Riaz, who was part of the selection committee that picked the team for the T20 World Cup, is expected to retain his influential position on the board and might also be appointed the new chief selector.