by: Atika Mehboob TN Sport Pakistan
Former Pakistan cricketer, Shoaib Malik, recently shared his viewpoint in an interview with a local media channel, suggesting that Babar Azam might consider relinquishing his captaincy role. Malik clarified that his opinion is based solely on his personal observations and assessment of Azam’s performance as a captain.
The ex-captain raised questions about Azam’s ability to lead with innovation and strategy. He feels that by stepping down from captaincy, Azam could potentially tap into his full prowess as a player, thereby benefiting Pakistan’s cricket team immensely.
“In the past, I’ve mentioned that Babar Azam might be better off without the captaincy. This sentiment remains. In my view, Babar’s leadership lacks the out-of-the-box thinking that’s often crucial. While he’s at the helm, I haven’t noticed significant growth in his captaincy style. Without that burden, I genuinely believe he can achieve great things for Pakistan as a player,” Malik commented.
The 41-year-old Malik also put forth Shaheen Afridi’s name as a suitable candidate for the captaincy in white-ball cricket if Babar Azam chooses to step down. “Given his aggressive leadership for Lahore Qalandars, Shaheen Afridi seems a fitting choice for the white-ball captaincy role,” he added.
