Following the team’s Test disaster against England at home, Pakistan’s head coach Saqlain Mushtaq may resign as the reports suggest. According to sources, Babar Azam may also lose his position as captain in the longest format by July of the following year.
According to a source close to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the board feels that Babar would be better off just leading the white-ball teams and the Test captaincy should go to someone else, preferably Mohammad Rizwan or Shan Masood.
“A lot of discussions have been held on Babar’s future as Test captain and it was decided to maintain status quo for now. But what is decided is that in July Babar will be changed as Test captain,” the source said.
According to the source, it was unanimously decided that it would not be wise to remove Babar as Test captain between now and July because doing so would demoralise the team and have an adverse effect on the captain’s performance.
The source also added that Saqlain Mushtaq might after the home series against New Zealand, which starts with the Test in Karachi on December 26. The source claimed that Babar and Saqlain had left for Lahore right away following the conclusion of the Test against England on Tuesday in Karachi.
“A high-level meeting was held in the office of the PCB chairman Ramiz Raja at the Gaddafi Stadium in which chief selector, Mohammad Wasim also participated. Every aspect of the team, selection matters, the captaincy and Saqlain’s role were discussed threadbare in the nearly three-hour-long meeting,” the source added.
In the meantime, Twitter was divided on the reports of Babar Azam being sacked as the Test team’s captain. “We love our captain too much he is a world class batsman and a best captain,” wrote a fan. “Sir please Babar Azam ko captain sai hate Muhammad Amir ko wapis Lai ae please,” wrote another fan.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the news of Babar Azam
Yes we love our captain too much he is a world class batsman and a best captain ? ? #sochnabemanahai #BabarAzam?
— Nnor (@Noorbabrian) December 22, 2022
Sir please Babar Azam ko captain sai hate Muhammad Amir ko wapis Lai ae please
— Huzaifa Ilyas (@Huzaifa82571320) December 22, 2022
Babar azam is the best captain ever ? it's time for us to stand for our king let's start #sochnabemanahai #BabarAzam? #ourcaptainbabarazam pic.twitter.com/2AATZx5JRq
— Nnor (@Noorbabrian) December 22, 2022
Babar azam is the best captain ever ? it's time for us to stand for our king let's start #sochnabemanahai #BabarAzam? #ourcaptainbabarazam pic.twitter.com/2AATZx5JRq
— Nnor (@Noorbabrian) December 22, 2022
By July of the following year, Babar Azam may no longer serve as Pakistan's Test captain, but he is expected to remain the white-ball captain.
— PakCricNews ???? (@OZPAKCRIC) December 22, 2022
We want @babarazam258 as captain until his retirement.
Kisi or ka #sochnabhimanah Hai— Noor Ali (@NoorAlijutt) December 22, 2022
So babar azam will not be the captain bye bye great cricket era, corruption and politics are back in cricket ??? https://t.co/GNmMH3mz1G
— Junaid Afridi (@JunaidAfriD3) December 22, 2022
Babar Azam is one of the best pleyer and captain for pakistan#Respect to Babar
— Farhad zazai (@zazaifarhad131) December 22, 2022
Plz Sir Remove @babarazam258 from captaincy plzzzz sir #removebaber
— Sohaib Ahmad ???? (@Sohaib34019188) December 22, 2022
Is Babar's captaincy in jeopardy? Najam Sethi gave an indication of the changes in the team and said that he will see if there is a change in the selected squad against New Zealand; if the squad had not been announced, he would have made changes.#PakvsNZ #BabarAzam #PCB
— Arsalan Siddique (@Arsalansidique1) December 22, 2022
If Babar Azam left the captaincy then who is better to take captaincy?
— ???????? ????? ????? (@myselfSurendra1) December 22, 2022
