In the aftermath of Pakistan’s subpar performance at the One Day International (ODI) World Cup in India, the team’s captain, Babar Azam, has returned to Lahore. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is now poised to deliberate on the future of Azam’s captaincy in the wake of the team’s failure to progress further in the tournament.
The defending champions, England, dealt a crushing blow to Babar’s team in their final group game at the ICC World Cup 2023, held in Kolkata. Despite superstar Ben Stokes’s brilliant innings, Pakistan’s campaign concluded in disappointment as they finished fifth on the ICC World Cup points table following a substantial loss to England at the iconic Eden Gardens.
Upon his arrival in Lahore, a visibly disheartened Babar Azam, surrounded by security personnel, greeted his family and fans at the Lahore International Airport. The Pakistan skipper’s return has sparked discussions about the future course of his leadership.
According to reports from news agency PTI, Babar Azam is scheduled to meet with PCB chief Zaka Ashraf in the coming week. The outcome of this meeting will determine whether Azam continues as the captain of the Pakistani cricket team. During the ODI World Cup, under Babar’s leadership, Pakistan faced challenges, losing five out of nine matches and relinquishing his top position in the ICC batting rankings to Indian opener Shubman Gill.
Babar Azam assumed the role of Pakistan’s white-ball captain in 2019 and later became the Test captain in 2021. His captaincy tenure includes leading the team in two Asia Cups, two T20 World Cups, and one ODI World Cup. While he successfully ended Pakistan’s losing streak against India in World Cup cricket in 2021, the recent World Cup performance has prompted a reevaluation of his leadership role.
This critical assessment of Babar Azam’s captaincy marks a pivotal moment for Pakistani cricket as the PCB deliberates on charting the team’s course for future campaigns.
