Pakistan captain Babar Azam has dismissed concerns about feeling the weight of captaincy ahead of their crucial World Cup encounter against England. Criticism has mounted against Babar, particularly during the ongoing tournament, where his leadership and on-field decision-making drew scrutiny. Despite his prowess as a top-order batter in white-ball cricket, Babar faced questions about his captaincy style, perceived by some as lacking aggression, especially in field placements.
The scrutiny reached a peak after Pakistan's loss to Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup. Former Pakistani captains Wasim Akram, Moin Khan, Shoaib Malik, and Misbah-ul-Haq openly criticised Babar's captaincy, deeming him insufficient for the role. Shoaib Malik even asserted that under Babar's leadership, Pakistan fostered a culture of friendships, likes, and dislikes, opining that while Babar excels as a batter, his leadership falls short.
In a pre-England game press conference, Babar addressed the criticism, asserting that he never felt the pressure of captaincy, having fulfilled the role for the past three years. He acknowledged his subpar performance in the World Cup, attributing the perceived pressure to that. Babar emphasized his openness to advice, inviting those with suggestions to reach out.
"I have been captaining my team for the last three years, and I have never felt this way," Babar stated confidently. "It's just because I have not performed the way I should have in the World Cup, that's why people are saying that I am under pressure. I am under no pressure."
Regarding the future of his captaincy, Babar remained uncertain, stating that decisions would be contemplated after the England match. "About the captaincy – as I said, once we go back to Pakistan or after this match, we will see what happens. But right now, I am not focusing on this; my focus is on the next match," he concluded.
Despite the external criticism, Babar Azam remains steadfast in his captaincy role, expressing resilience in the face of adversity as he gears up for the upcoming challenge against England.
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