Ahmed Shehzad: “Babar was wrongly appointed as captain”
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Veteran Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad believes Babar Azam should have never been appointed captain of the national team.
Azam served as captain on two separate occasions – initially from 2019 to 2023 before returning as limited overs captain from March to October 2024.
Shehzad feels that the 31-year-old did not have the right skills to succeed in a leadership role, which is a view many former players held as well.
“Babar was wrongly appointed as captain,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Azam recently took part in Pakistan’s home series against South Africa and amassed 131 runs in two Tests, which included a top score of 50, at an average of 32.75.
In the three T20Is that followed, he finished with 79 runs, which included a top score of 68, at an average of 39.50 and a strike-rate of 117.91.
As for the ODIs, Azam ended up mustering 45 runs in three games at an average of 15.
Next up for Pakistan was a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, where Azam stole the spotlight as he struck 165 runs, which included his first international century in over two years, at an average of 82.50.
After that, the Lahore-born batsman participated in the T20I tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, where he accumulated 127 runs in five games, which included a top score of 74, at an average of 31.75 and a strike-rate of 112.38.
Pakistan Squad for 2025 Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah