'A captain should...': Babar Azam's former teammate's advice post T20 World Cup debacle
Shoaib Malik urges Babar Azam to leave leadership role after poor T20 WC
Former Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik has advised Babar Azam to give up on limited-overs captaincy in order to focus on his batting.
The Men-in-Green were knocked out of the T20 World Cup in the group stage but managed to walk away with pride intact by stuttering to a three-wicket win against Ireland in their final league match on Sunday (Jun 16).
Speaking after the match, Malik cited his example and how he had refused captaincy back in 2009, and suggested that Babar follow a similar path.
"I think I would immediately resign from the captaincy and focus on my cricket. It has happened to me. I was asked to be captain again in 2009/10 and I did not accept it because I wanted to focus on my cricket," Malik said on a Ten Sports Pakistan show.
"If I was Babar I would do the exact same thing. Babar's numbers reflect that as well. If he can improve, be better for the country, then do it."
Malik also pointed out Babar's tendency to do everything by himself in the captain's role, which did not augur well for the team's long-term future.
"A captain should create players for you. Babar has captained in 147 internationals, and has captained in 6 ICC tournaments, but he has not won any.
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"Babar has captained in 127 white ball games and he has not rested himself in any of them. This is a big question mark. I think there was just one game where he rested himself and that too where the board asked him to," he added.
Babar on his future
After Pakistan huffed and puffed their way to the finish line against Ireland, Babar was quizzed in the post-match press conference about his captaincy future where he remained diplomatic in his answer.
"When I gave up the captaincy [in 2023], I thought that I shouldn't be doing it now, that's why I left it and I announced it myself," Babar said.
"Then when they gave it back to me, it was the decision of the PCB. When I go back, we will discuss all that has happened here. And if I have to leave the captaincy, I will announce it openly. I will not hide behind anything. Whatever happens will happen in the open. But for now, I have not thought about it. It is eventually PCB's decision," he added.
Under Babar's captaincy, Pakistan had also crashed out of the group stage of the 50-over World Cup in India last year.
(With inputs from agencies)