by: Atika Mehboob TN Sport Pakistan:
In the aftermath of Pakistan’s early exit from the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, Babar Azam stepped down as captain across all formats, citing the need for a fresh approach. Despite Azam’s claim that captaincy did not affect his batting performance, Mohammad Hafeez, the newly-appointed Team Director for Pakistan, voiced a contrasting opinion.
During the World Cup, Babar Azam stated, “As far as captaincy is concerned, I don’t have much pressure on me or on my batting. I try to give my best in batting. During fielding, I think about captaincy and during batting I just think about the batting.”
However, Hafeez offered a different perspective during a press conference held in Lahore on Tuesday, emphasizing that relieving Babar of captaincy responsibilities could elevate his batting performance.
“As a batsman, Babar Azam has made immense contributions for Pakistan. Not being captain will release pressure from him. Captaincy definitely adds pressure onto a cricketer, and if someone denies that, they are wrong. With that pressure eased, I think Babar’s performance will get even better. He has already been making excellent contributions for Pakistan cricket, and I believe he will further enhance his performance to help Pakistan achieve success,” stated Hafeez.
This disagreement between Azam and Hafeez raises questions about the potential impact of leadership roles on a player’s individual performance and adds an intriguing layer to the ongoing discussions surrounding Pakistan cricket.
