With New Zealand one wicket away and the hosts 15 short of their 319-run target on day five of the second Test in Karachi, Sarfaraz Ahmed‘s valiant century helped Pakistan end the match in a draw. The pressure on Pakistan’s under-fire captain Babar Azam has increased as a result of the Test series’ result, with the first match also ending in a draw.
Changes in the PCB and the appointment of former all-rounder Shahid Afridi as the interim chief selector have made matters worse for Babar. Despite being aggressively questioned by journalists recently during press conferences, the 28-year-old has maintained his composure by responding curtly and directly. After the second Test, a journalist once again put Babar in an awkward situation regarding his captaincy.
“Kuch log keh rahe hai aapki team pe grip kamzor hoti ja rahi hai. Dosti yaari ka silsila Pakistan team mein khata ho rahi hai. (Some people are saying that your grip over the team is getting weaker and your friendships are getting over in the Pakistan Cricket team)”, the journalist began.
Babar interrupted, “Which friends?”
The journalist finished his question, asking, “Since Shahid Afridi came, he has changed the vice-captaincy in ODIs, with Shan Masood coming in to fill in the role. Now it’s being said that even Test captaincy will be snatched away from you soon?”
Babar responded savagely, cutting off the reporter. He said, “Sir, you will only be knowing to whom is the captaincy going. I don’t care about this. My work is to perform in the field and make my team also perform.”
Here is Babar Azam’s video
A journo revealed to Babar Azam that he was going to lose his Test captaincy and here's what he said ?
He also said Shahid Afridi removed Shadab Khan's wicket from limited-overs. What's happening in pressers these days? #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/pN5TFSWX9O
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) January 6, 2023
In the 20-20 World Cup last year, Pakistan was led by Babar to a runner-up finish after falling to England in the championship match. In the upcoming 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup, Babar and Pakistan will be vying for victory. Due to Pakistan’s diplomatic and political differences with the host nation, India, its participation in the premier event, however, is in doubt.
