Pakistan's nightmarish campaign in the ongoing ODI World Cup has put Babar Azam's captaincy in jeopardy. After hat-trick of defeats Pakistan's chances to reach the semifinals appear bleak unless they register a win against a formidable South African team in Chennai on October 26, Friday. But Pakistan's track record in the tournament so far doesn't pain a positive picture, with three losses in their previous five games, especially after shocking defeat at the hands of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, right ahead of Pakistan's World Cup clash against South Africa in Chepauk, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) dropped a bombshell statement and hinted that Babar's captaincy days are numbered. PCB stated,"Addressing the media scrutiny directed at captain Babar Azam and the team management, the board's stance, echoing that of former cricketers, is that successes and defeats are part of the game. Captain Babar Azam and Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq were given freedom and support in forming the squad for the ICC World Cup 2023."
PCB further hinted that their future decisions would align with the best interests of Pakistan cricket, depending on the outcomes in the World Cup. They urged stakeholders, fans, and former cricketers to support the national team during this crucial juncture.
After facing consecutive defeats to arch-rivals India, Australia, and, more shockingly, Afghanistan, there have been rising calls questioning Babar's leadership in the 50-over format.
"Only if Pakistan can stage a miracle and win all their remaining matches to qualify for the semifinals of this World Cup does Babar stand any chance of surviving as captain and even then he might be relegated to skipper in just the red-ball format," a source privy to the development said as reported by PTI.
As speculations abound, names like Sarfaraz Ahmed, Muhammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi are emerging as potential successors to Babar Azam's captaincy mantle once the World Cup concludes.
Amidst the leadership controversy, Pakistan are scheduled to tour Australia immediately after the World Cup. The team also needs to plan for the 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
It was learnt that Babar Azam has had ample opportunities to shine as captain, but unfortunately, he hasn't quite lived up to expectations, as per PCB.
To this, the PCB's official statement stated, "The PCB acknowledges the emotions and sentiments of cricket fans following the three consecutive defeats faced by the national team in the ICC World Cup 2023. In this challenging environment, the board administration hopes that the cricketing fraternity and fans will continue to support captain Babar Azam and the entire Pakistan cricket team."
"The national team still has four crucial matches remaining in the round-robin stage, and the PCB is optimistic that the team will regroup, overcome the setbacks and perform positively and effectively in the upcoming fixtures," the statement added.
WITH PTI INPUTS
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Watch: Undefeated Team India receives grand welcome in Lucknow ahead of clash with defending champions England
Ben Stokes spotted using inhaler during training session in Bengaluru ahead of must-win World Cup clash vs Sri Lanka
