Pakistan’s first-ever ODI loss to Afghanistan has had a ripple effect. Former cricketers ripped into Babar Azam’s decisions as Pakistan failed to defend the total in MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. As a result, four potential candidates Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi have already been discussed to replace him if Pakistan return home without reaching the semi-finals keeping in mind the 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy.
"Only if Pakistan can stage a miracle and win all their remaining matches to qualify for the semi-finals 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 close the developments in Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) told PTI.
The source said that Babar has had the final say in squad selections which have not worked in Pakistan’s way.
“It is over for Babar because he has been given unbridled power and authority as captain and more importantly he has always had players of his choice in the team.
"There has never been any attempt to reduce his authority and so he is now being held solely responsible for the Asia Cup and World Cup defeats,” the source added.
The source also said that he was advised by former captains Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez to make changes to the squad before Asia Cup and World Cup but he refused. Babar got his wish and chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq obliged as well.
“The PCB Chairman, Zaka Ashraf ignored the advice of Misbah and Hafeez and some other former players whom he consulted as Babar was adamant he didn’t want changes in the team for the World Cup,” the source said.
Misbah also confirmed the reports and revealed that he was in favour of including Abrar Ahmed in the squad but Babar took him as a travelling reserve.
There is a possibility that different captains are named for red and white-ball formats. Apart from the four candidates mentioned before, there are even calls to name Shan Masood as Test captain.
“Sarfaraz might win the nod to captain the Test and ODI sides again while Shaheen may get a chance to be the T20 captain,” the source added.
Sarfaraz, who led Pakistan to the Champions Trophy 2017 title is not currently a part of the ODI squad. The poor run has also put Team Director Mickey Arthur, head coach Grant Bradburn, bowling coach Morne Morkel, and others under the scanner.
“They are very bright chances that Pakistan will have a new coaching staff and captain when they embark on the Test tour of Australia and for the white ball series in New Zealand after the WC,” the source said.
There are also reports of PCB unhappy with reports of differences in the dressing room getting leaked to the media.
Babar was named T20I captain in 2019 when Sarfaraz was sacked and later took over as captain in all formats. Under his captaincy, Pakistan have failed to reach World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 final and crashed out of the Asia Cup early. The best result was Pakistan reaching the final of T20 World Cup 2023 where they lost to England.
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