Did differences with coach Gary Kirsten lead to Babar Azam quitting captaincy? PCB source reveals details

Babar Azam quitting Pakistan's white-ball captaincy raised plenty of questions on the board, the team management and Babar himself. Though his social media post read that he is stepping aside from the leadership role to concentrate on his batting, a source close to the PCB and developments behind reveals the difference in head coach Gary Kirsten and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood’s observations with Babar’s escalated the matter.

Following losing to England in the T20I series before the T20 World Cup in the Americas, where they lost to the co-host USA and arch-rivals India in two straight games, leading to them getting knocked out of the tournament in the first round, the pressure started building on Babar. What made matters worsewas Babar’s below-par performancethroughout.

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With the PCB lagging in throwing weight behind their top-ranked batter and Babar differing from the observations mentioned in the report submitted by the coaching group, he decided against continuing in his job despite the ICC Champions Trophy date nearing.

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“Babar was not happy with the observations and recommendations of Kirsten and even assistant coachAzhar Mahmood, and felt he was solely being blamed for the disappointing performances," a PCB source close to the information said, as quoted by PTI. "He had indicated to the cricket board after some parts of Kirsten's report became public that he was not interested in remaining captain."

The source further revealed that Babar was unhappy with PCB’s call of not naming him the ODI captain right away while announcing his appointment as the T20 captain ahead of the T20 WC.

Meanwhile, in Gary Kirsten’s report submitted to the PCB, he mentioned how the lack of trust and backing in the dressing room and the non-cooperation of some players during the England T20Is and the T20 World Cup led to poor performances and shallow results.

PCB in no rush to name Babar Azam’s replacement

Per the latest reports, the PCB is not rushing into naming Babar Azam’s replacement as the new ODI and T20I captain. The selection committee is said to have informally informed Kirsten about them taking time before naming a new white-ball skipper.

“Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has made it clear he wants minutes of all official discussions by the selection committee that includes both foreign head coaches to be recorded so that a clear reason is on record for making the appointment," the source added.

(With inputs from agencies)