According to reports from India Today, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi as potential replacements for Babar Azam as the captain after the ongoing World Cup.
Despite a promising start to their 2023 World Cup campaign, where they won the first two matches, the Pakistan team has faced a setback with three consecutive losses, currently ranking fifth on the points table. Their loss to India was disappointing, and they also suffered their first-ever defeat to Afghanistan in their recent match.
More than the results, there have been questions raised about some of Babar’s decisions during Afghanistan’s remarkable chase of 283. An insider, as reported by India Today, stated, “Babar’s chances of remaining as captain are slim unless Pakistan miraculously wins all their remaining matches to reach the semi-finals of this World Cup. Even then, he might be considered only for the red ball format.”
Unless Pakistan stages a remarkable comeback and secures a semi-final spot, it appears that Babar’s tenure as captain is likely coming to an end. The source explained, “Babar’s leadership is in jeopardy because he has held significant power and authority as captain, including selecting his preferred players for the team. There have been no attempts to curtail his authority, making him solely accountable for Pakistan’s losses in the Asia Cup and World Cup.”
Before the World Cup, Pakistan had a disappointing campaign in the Asia Cup, finishing at the bottom of the Super Fours table. Babar Azam, who is 29 years old, has captained the team in 130 matches across formats, achieving 76 wins and 42 losses, with a win percentage of 58.46%.
