Inzamam-ul-Haq, the newly reinstated chief selector of the Pakistani cricket team, has shed light on Babar Azam’s potential future as the captain of the national side across all formats, just ahead of the much-anticipated Asia Cup. In a press conference held at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium prior to the ODI series against Afghanistan, Inzamam shared his thoughts on the captaincy scenario.
Amid his official duty of unveiling Pakistan’s 18-member squad for the Afghanistan series, which will eventually be trimmed to 17 for the Asia Cup due to the ongoing political instability in Afghanistan, Inzamam was candid in his response about Babar Azam’s role as the leader of the team. He expressed his belief that consistency in captaincy is vital for team stability.
Inzamam pointed out, “See, a lot of changes in captaincy are not conducive to team performance. I think Babar is excelling in his captaincy, and when I was chief selector before, Sarfaraz Ahmed wasn’t the captain across all three formats initially, but he assumed that responsibility later. In my opinion, there should be a single captain for all formats, especially if he is participating in all three formats. This approach ensures the captain comprehends how to guide his players consistently. However, the decision regarding captaincy is not within my domain.”
During his time as captain, Sarfaraz Ahmed led Pakistan across formats, and Inzamam’s remark reflects the importance of having a unified leadership structure for enhanced player development and team cohesion.
Babar Azam, who succeeded Sarfaraz Ahmed as the ODI captain in 2020, has exhibited noteworthy leadership skills, guiding Pakistan to victories in 17 out of 26 ODIs under his helm. Notably, Pakistan reached the final of the T20 World Cup last year under his captaincy, securing a historic win against arch-rivals India. As the ODI series against Afghanistan is set to kick off on August 22, 24, and 26 in Sri Lanka, Babar and his team are gearing up for intense cricketing action.
Furthermore, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are set to co-host the Asia Cup, scheduled from August 30 to September 17. The event’s format was altered due to India’s decision not to play in Pakistan, resulting in only four matches taking place in the country. Inzamam emphasized the selection of players with an eye on the upcoming World Cup, expressing his hopes that the team’s performance will bring pride to the nation.
As discussions surrounding Babar Azam’s leadership role continue to attract attention, cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the upcoming series and the Asia Cup as a testament to Pakistan’s cricketing prowess under his captaincy.
