Azhar Ali: “I don’t think Babar has any issues with his captaincy. The whole captaincy episode wasn’t ideal. Neither removing him was ideal, nor is reappointing him ideal”
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Former Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali has admitted that the whole captaincy saga involving Babar Azam wasn’t ideal in any way whatsoever.
He noted that the 29-year-old should have never been made to step down as skipper in November 2023 nor reappointed as limited overs captain in March 2024.
With the entire ordeal now done and dusted, Azhar wants Pakistan to move forward and urged the players to fully support Azam.
“I don’t think Babar has any issues with his captaincy. The whole captaincy episode wasn’t ideal. Neither removing him was ideal, nor is reappointing him ideal. Now I hope the team supports him better and that there are no hard feelings from anyone,” he told Cricket Pakistan.
Azam recently captained Pakistan in their five-match T20I series against New Zealand and amassed 125 runs in five games, which included a top score of 69, at an average of 31.25 and a strike-rate of 138.88.
He then amassed 132 runs in three T20Is against Ireland, which included two fifties, at an average of 44 and a strike-rate of 148.31.
Pakistan will now play four T20Is against England from May 22 to May 30.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series: Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan
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