Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has publicly criticized Babar Azam’s decision to take on the national Test team’s captaincy, labeling the move as an unnecessary mistake.
Speaking at a charity fundraising event in Manchester alongside fellow fast-bowling legend Waqar Younis, Akram shared his candid thoughts on the leadership dynamics within the squad. “I don’t want to blame anyone, and I could be wrong, but in my opinion, Babar shouldn’t have taken the captaincy at all; it was completely unnecessary,” the legendary pacer remarked.
Highlighting a glaring lack of communication and authority, Akram pointed to the toss of the third Test, where Babar admitted to being unaware of the sudden changes involving seven players and the coach. Akram sharply questioned what purpose a captain serves if he is kept in the dark about his own playing XI and team management.
Emphasizing the importance of strong leadership, Akram stated that players cannot give their 100 percent if their captain fails to take a stand for them. He concluded that, following the disruptive events of the second Test, Babar should have opted to step aside from the leadership role and continue strictly as a player.
