Kamran Akmal: “The real reason behind Babar’s decline in form is the management, which made him captain too soon”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal believes Babar Azam was appointed as captain too soon, which is the “real reason” behind his decline in form.
Azam has captained the men in green on two separate occasions – once across all three formats and once in limited overs cricket.
Akmal noted that if he were the 31-year-old, he wouldn’t have accepted the leadership role the first time he was offered it as he would have focused on his batting and winning matches for Pakistan.
The 43-year-old admitted that it wouldn’t have been easy for Azam to give up the captaincy on both occasions since it would have involved relinquishing the “power and authority that comes with it”.
“The real reason behind Babar’s decline in form is the management, which made him captain too soon. I had spoken to him when he was being appointed as captain and told him that if I were in his place, I wouldn’t have accepted the role at that time. Babar received a lot of support, he got to lead Pakistan in 4-5 ICC events but the performances weren’t up to expectations. He should have stepped down after the second event. Leaving captaincy isn’t a difficult decision, but the problem is that no one wants to let go of the power and authority that comes with it,” Akmal was quoted as saying by TOK Sports on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Azam recently represented Pakistan in their home series against South Africa and started off with 131 runs in two Tests, which included a top score of 50, at an average of 32.75.
He then proceeded to make 79 runs in three T20Is, which included a top score of 68, at an average of 39.50 and a strike-rate of 117.91.
As for the three-match ODI series, the Lahore-born batsman mustered 45 runs in three games at an average of 15.
Azam had a much better showing in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka as he registered his first hundred in international cricket since August 2023.
Overall, he concluded the series with 165 runs at an average of 82.50.
Right now, Azam is taking part in Pakistan’s T20I tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, and has made 90 runs in four games, which includes a top score of 74, at an average of 22.50 and a strike-rate of 113.92.
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem