Following Pakistan’s disheartening exit from the ODI World Cup 2023, speculation regarding the future of Babar Azam as the national team captain intensified. In the aftermath of their conclusion at the tournament, Babar decided to relinquish his role as captain—a development that brought Pakistani cricket under the spotlight once again.
Espousing opinions from various angles, former Australian cricketer Ian Chappell remarked that this scenario was hardly unprecedented for the Pakistan cricket team, known for its frequent captaincy changes. “Yeah that’s a pity, I think Babar’s a very good player. He’s not leaving the Pakistan side and maybe they can find a better captain. But it’s typical of Pakistan, they change captains,” he commented on the Wide World of Sports platform.
Pakistan’s World Cup journey commenced with promise, marked by consecutive victories at the beginning, but their momentum waned mid-tournament as they suffered four successive defeats. A particular low point was their unexpected defeat to Afghanistan—their first in ODI format against the Afghan side.
Amid these performance pressures, Babar took to social media to announce his step-down, acknowledging collective efforts yet sensing the timing fitting for his decision. “Reaching the number 1 spot in the white-ball format was a result of the collective efforts of players, coaches, and management, but I’d like to express my gratitude to passionate Pakistan cricket fans for their unwavering support during this journey. Today, I am stepping down as the captain of Pakistan in all formats. It’s a difficult decision but I feel it is the right time for this call,” Babar tweeted.
As Pakistan cricket turns over a new leaf, Shan Masood is set to lead the team into a three-match Test series in Australia, beginning in the first week of December. This series marks Masood’s debut in the role of Test captain and promises new challenges.
Chappell, assessing Pakistan’s upcoming tour to Australia, alluded to Pakistan’s track record down under, pointing out the historical struggle Pakistani teams have faced, particularly when combating the bounce of Australian pitches. He recognized the current fast bowling talent within the Pakistani ranks but was skeptical of their performance on Australian soil.
Referring to the Australian squad, Chappell acknowledged that they may be past their peak, taking into account the eventual retirement of key players like David Warner. However, he maintained that Australia’s pace attack comprising Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood remains a formidable force—one that the Pakistani batsmen must gear up to face, with the added challenge posed by the Australian bounce.
Chappell’s concluding thoughts on the imminent series and the overall dynamics of the Pakistan cricket team underscore the unpredictability and transitional nature of the sport. The upcoming matches will not only be a test for the new captain but also for the adaptability and resilience of the team as they seek to regain composure after their World Cup campaign and move forward under new leadership.