How Pakistan's Decision To Remove Babar Azam As Test Captain Has Backfired

Aashay Chopade

Babar Azam in Test cricket for Pakistan (Source:AFP)Babar Azam in Test cricket for Pakistan (Source:AFP)

Babar Azam is arguably the best batter of Pakistan in the last decade or so. He has scored runs across formats and led Pakistan too with decent success. However, things have not gone his way in the last couple of years, and the batter is now out of the T20I side.

In the Test format, too, his form has dwindled, and the classy batter even found himself out of the Test XI during the home Test series against England in 2024. However, the move to remove Babar Azam from Test captaincy has also played a big part in his downfall.

Babar Azam's Career Rise Halted By PCB's Captaincy Decision

Babar Azam made his Test debut in 2016, and after struggling to find his feet for two years, he came into his own in 2018. The batter scored some big runs in the next few years and was made the captain in 2021. As a captain too, Babar Azam, the batter, flourished and scored runs consistently, emerging as the top cricketer of the country.

Babar Azam In Tests: Captain vs Non-Captain

Criterion
As Captain
As Non-Captain
Innings3573
Runs17272508
Average50.7938.58
Strike-Rate53.7354.83
100s/50s4/11
5/18

As shown in the table, his average as captain in Test cricket is over 50, which is way more than his overall career average of 42.77. Also, there is a difference of 12 points in his average as captain and non-captain in the purest format, which clearly shows that Babar Azam has been at his peak as a Test batter during his leadership.

Babar Azam Struggles Under Shan Masood's Captaincy

However, the 2023 World Cup loss triggered a major shift in Pakistan cricket, and Babar Azam was removed from leadership across formats. Shan Masood was named as Test captain despite Babar winning 10 out of the 20 Tests as leader.

Babar Azam's Test Record Under Shan Masood's Captaincy

Criterion
Data
Innings20
Runs463
Average23.15
Strike-Rate48.63
100/500/3

The move affected his batting big time, and since then, under Shan Masood, Babar Azam has scored his Test runs at an average of just 23.15. He has also not hit a century since losing his leadership, and this poor form has translated into other formats as well.

Also, Pakistan have struggled big time in Test cricket under Shan Masood. They have won just three Tests out of the 12, and one of the major reasons has been the struggle of the batting line-up, with Babar not being able to deliver consistently.

Conclusion:

Thus, looking at the deterioration of Babar Azam's numbers in Test cricket and Pakistan's struggle under Shan Masood, it is clear that the move to remove him from captaincy has backfired.