Babar Azam, once hailed as Pakistan’s cricketing prodigy, finds himself under intense scrutiny as the team’s recent performances have been far from impressive. The Pakistan cricket team’s struggles in major tournaments, including the World Cup, have put Babar’s leadership and decision-making in the spotlight. The latest controversy stems from explosive comments made by Mohammad Wasim, the former chief selector of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Allegations of Stubborn Leadership
According to Wasim, working with Babar Azam as captain was a challenging task. He described Babar as stubborn and resistant to change, making it difficult to implement necessary team adjustments. Wasim’s frustrations with Babar’s reluctance to accept new strategies or changes were so intense that he often had to go beyond his role to convince Babar to agree on certain decisions.
The Return of Controversial Players
One of the most shocking revelations from Wasim is the claim that Babar Azam reinstated certain players into the team who were previously removed for being detrimental to the team’s success. Wasim mentioned that these players were identified by four different coaches as a “cancer” to the team, implying that their presence was toxic and harmful to Pakistan’s chances of winning. Although Wasim did not disclose the names of these players, he made it clear that their inclusion under Babar’s leadership contributed to the team’s downfall.
A Captaincy Under Fire
Babar Azam’s tenure as captain across all formats has been marred by near-misses and disappointments. Under his leadership, Pakistan reached the final of one T20 World Cup and the semi-final of another, only to fall short each time. The team also faced defeat in the Asia Cup final, and their early exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup marked a significant low point. The cumulative effect of these failures eventually led to Babar stepping down as captain in all formats.
Despite this, Babar made a comeback as the T20 captain, only to face further humiliation in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Pakistan was knocked out by the USA in a shocking defeat. This string of underwhelming performances has left fans and cricketing experts questioning whether Babar Azam’s leadership is what the team needs moving forward.
A Legacy in Jeopardy
As Babar Azam continues to navigate his role in Pakistan cricket, the controversies and criticisms surrounding his captaincy decisions are unlikely to fade away quickly. With the team’s performance declining and internal conflicts coming to light, the once-celebrated captain now faces the daunting task of rebuilding not just his reputation, but the entire team’s morale and success.
