‘The mindset of the captain needs to…’ – Former Pakistan captain’s bold statement on Babar Azam

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is under immense pressure as his team got whitewashed against England and lost a three-match Test series 3-0. At the series’ concluding Test in Karachi, England easily defeated the host team by 8 wickets while completing the 170-run total in 28.1 overs.

The Three Lions continued on its aggressive approach – more commonly known as the ‘Bazball’ – throughout the Pakistan series, proving their doubters wrong.

Fans and former cricketers are upset with Babar, and some have even suggested that the great batter resigns from his position as skipper. Shahid Afridi, a great all-rounder and former cricketer for Pakistan, however, supported the 28-year-old batter and argued that firing Babar was not the answer to the team’s problems.

Babar is being held responsible for this debacle: Shahid Afridi

“This (replacing Babar as captain) is not the solution. The mindset of the captain needs to be changed. Management needs to change the mindset, they need to demand a certain style of cricket from the captain and his team. If you have to take the Pakistan team to the top, you need to change Babar’s mindset. It’s not only his mistake or responsibility. The management also has the responsibility, they are so much more senior. They need to make the players understand on the style of cricket they expect from them,” Afridi said on Samaa TV.

“So, if only Babar is being held responsible for this debacle, it would be very unfair,” the former Pakistan cricketer added.

Pakistan will next play a two-match Test series against New Zealand, starting 26th December 2022. Pakistan suffered a significant positional loss in the World Test Championship table, dropping to seventh place with 38.89 percentage points (PP). England are currently in fifth place with 46.97 PP.