Wasim Akram has openly questioned Babar Azam’s decision to accept the Test captaincy once again, saying the star batsman should have stayed focused on his role as a player instead of taking charge of the team.
Speaking at a charity fundraising event in Manchester alongside former pacer Waqar Younis, the legendary fast bowler shared his honest views on recent events in Pakistan cricket. Akram made it clear that he was not blaming anyone and admitted he could also be wrong, yet in his opinion Babar’s return to leadership was unnecessary.
The comments came in the backdrop of Pakistan’s difficult Test tour of England. After heavy defeats in the first two matches, the team went through major changes. Seven players were sent home and the coaching staff was reshuffled. When asked about these decisions during the toss for the third Test in Birmingham, Babar replied that he was unaware of the changes.
Akram reacted strongly to that statement. He sarcastically asked what Babar was doing as captain if he did not know about such important team decisions. The former skipper even used a sharp remark, questioning whether Babar was present only to sell chickpeas. Akram stressed that when a leader fails to stand by his players, the team cannot give its full effort.
He further suggested that after the second Test loss, Babar should have stepped down from the captaincy and continued in the series purely as a batsman. According to Akram, this would have been a better and more practical approach.
Babar was reappointed as Pakistan’s Test captain on 5 July, replacing Shan Masood, just before the tours of the West Indies and England. He had earlier led the side between 2020 and 2023 in 20 Tests, recording 10 wins, six losses and four draws. Under his latest leadership, Pakistan managed a 1-1 draw in the West Indies but suffered a complete 3-0 whitewash in England.
England won the opening Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs, followed by a 194-run victory at Lord’s. Even after the big changes, Pakistan could not stop the home side from completing the series win with an eight-wicket victory at Edgbaston.
Akram’s remarks have once again sparked debate about leadership choices and accountability in Pakistan cricket.
