Under-fire Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has not considered stepping down from his leadership role despite his team's early exit from the T20 World Cup. Babar insists that any decision on his future as captain will be made after discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The 2009 champions, who were also finalists in the 2007 and 2022 editions, faced a humiliating group-stage exit after losses to the USA and India. The team failed to advance to the Super Eights, prompting widespread criticism.
Responding to questions about his potential resignation, Babar was resolute. “When I go back, we will discuss all the things that happened here. If I have to leave the captaincy, I will tell you openly. I will not announce anything behind the scenes. Whatever happens, will happen in front of you,” Babar said following Pakistan’s narrow three-wicket win over Ireland, which concluded their group league campaign.
Babar said that the PCB reinstated him as captain and that any decision about his future will be theirs to make.
“I have not thought about it. The decision is of the PCB,” he said, reiterating that he never sought the leadership role.
Reflecting on his tenure, Babar noted, “When I had left it (after the ODI World Cup), I thought that I shouldn't be doing it now, that's why I left it and I announced it myself. Then when they gave it back to me, it was the decision of the PCB.”
Babar was visibly frustrated by repeated inquiries about his captaincy and stressed that the responsibility for the team's losses should not fall on one individual.
“We are losing as a team. I am not saying this because of one person. You are pointing out that because of the captain, I cannot play in every player's place. There are 11 players and each of them has a role,” Babar explained.
He made it clear that it was the team's collective failure to perform led to their downfall, not any single player.
Imad Wasim, in a media interaction, criticized Pakistan’s outdated approach to T20 cricket, suggesting that the team had not adapted to the evolving dynamics of the format. Babar partly agreed, noting, “I think eight-nine players are the same who have been playing for four years. They should not fear. All of them are the same players. They are being backed. They are being given opportunities.”
Babar acknowledged that batting was a significant area of concern.
“You need to assess the conditions, what's the demand here. If you follow that then - tell me how many matches have been played here and there's been outstanding batting? There's been a struggle, but you need to be proactive about what's required here. I think it's about game awareness and common sense, which is what is required here,” he said.
Criticism of the US pitches also surfaced, with Babar joining the chorus of disapproval regarding the standard of the playing surfaces during the tournament's USA leg, which concluded on Saturday.
Drop-in pitches in New York received heavy criticism, as did the inadequate covers for the full ground in Florida.
“I was expecting someone to ask this question (on US tracks). As far as pitches are concerned...In New York, you saw that the game was played on toss. I think the timing was a little too early. Because when you win a toss, every second team opted to bowl. And bowlers got help...you didn't have the idea of bounce because there was no consistent bounce. Sometimes the ball went too high, sometimes it stayed down,” Babar remarked.
The early exit from the T20 World Cup and the ensuing criticism have put Babar Azam and the Pakistan team under intense scrutiny.
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