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Pakistan captain and superstar Babar Azam is contemplating relinquishing his role as the skipper of the Men in Green's white-ball teams after returning home from India where he is currently leading his nation in the World Cup. According to Geo News, Babar is unhappy with the beahviour of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and former cricketers. This development surfaces amidst Pakistan's struggling performance in the ongoing ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, where they are on the brink of elimination.
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The report further stated that the 29-year-old cricketer has been actively seeking advice regarding his future, engaging in discussions with ex-PCB chairman Ramiz Raja and other confidants. These consultations, including a recent one with Raja at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, are pivotal in shaping Azam's decision about his captaincy.
The report also claimed that the insider revealed that Azam is considering stepping down from the captaincy in all three formats of the game. This suggestion stems from the notion that leading captains often encounter difficulties, especially in Test series in Australia. Consequently, Babar's inner circle is leaning towards recommending him to relinquish his leadership roles in both red and white-ball cricket.
Originally planning to make this decision while in India, Babar has now decided to delay it until his return to Pakistan. His tenure as captain saw a mix of outcomes in the World Cup, with wins against the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and New Zealand, but defeats to India, Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan.
Pakistan's World Cup journey is not yet over; they still have a chance to end with 10 points. However, their net run rate is a significant hurdle.
Pakistan semi-final qualification scenario:
In the upcoming cricket match, the Pakistan team faces a daunting task regardless of the toss outcome. If England's captain Jos Buttler chooses to bat first, Pakistan will be compelled to achieve a seemingly unattainable target: chasing down whatever score England sets in a mere 16 balls. This scenario assumes Pakistan can dismiss England for less than 100 runs, a feat in itself challenging.
Conversely, if Pakistan's captain Babar Azam wins the toss and decides to bat, their objective will be to defeat the 2019 World Cup champions by a staggering margin of at least 287 runs. This requirement appears equally formidable for the Pakistan side.
Nevertheless, the current World Cup has witnessed two extraordinary victories with margins exceeding 300 runs. Australia, a five-time World Cup champion, triumphed over the Netherlands by 309 runs in a match held in Delhi last month. Additionally, earlier this month, India achieved a 302-run victory against Sri Lanka at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.
Historical performances at the Eden Gardens, the venue for this critical match, also set high benchmarks. India holds the record for the highest total at this ground, scoring 404/5 against Sri Lanka in 2014. In contrast, the lowest total recorded at Eden Gardens was 83, achieved by South Africa against India earlier in this tournament, leading to a 243-run defeat.
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