Pakistan’s dismal performance in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 has demand for Babar Azam’s removal as captain. The Men in Green are seventh with a net run rate (NRR) of 0.036 after winning four of eight games.
Demands for Babar Azam’s resignation as captain increases
Razzaq praised Afghanistan’s eight-wicket win over Pakistan. “Afghanistan played very well and their goal was to defeat Pakistan,” said he. He stated that no team loves Pakistan winning because they’re good.
In addition, all-rounder Imad Wasim asked Babar to resign as captain. “When you lose the World Cup, you should also give up the role of captaincy yourself,” stated. Pacer Muhammad Amir also addressed the Babar Azam resignation discussion.
“Only one word — bad selection — for the World Cup team,” he remarked, explaining Pakistan’s four straight losses in the 10-team event.
A day earlier, sources said Babar may resign as white-ball cricket captain after returning from India. The 29-year-old has been speaking with former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja and close friends on his future, sources say.
Azam asked Raja for advise when training at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Friday. According to insiders, his close advisers prefer he step aside from leadership in all three formats. Babar Azam began the World Cup as the top ODI batter, but his 40.28 average trails three teammates, and numerous previous players have criticized his leadership. The 29-year-old number three hitter reached 74 in their upset loss to Afghanistan, but he claimed that captaincy was influencing his batting.
“I have been captaining my team for the last three years and I have never felt pressure,” he said Friday ahead of a vital World Cup encounter against England that they must win by an unlikely margin.
“Once we go back to Pakistan… we will see what happens,” he stated about resigning as captain.
“People claim I’m under pressure since I didn’t perform well in the World Cup.
“For the last two and a half or three years, I led the team and performed.
“Everyone thinks I should be this or that. My number is probably known to everyone who wants to counsel me. Giving advice on TV is probably easy.”