Babar Azam Expected To Miss Out On Test Captaincy For Bangladesh Tour After T20 WC Debacle
Babar Azam's PAK got knocked out of T20 WC 2024 in the group stage itself (x.com)
Babar Azam's dreams of reclaiming the Test captaincy for Pakistan appear to have been dashed, following a string of disheartening performances at the T20 World Cup 2024.
The Pakistani cricket fraternity was left shell-shocked as the USA eliminated Pakistan from qualifying for the Super 8 stage. This has cast a long shadow over Babar Azam's leadership future.
Shan Masood Set to Retain Test captaincy against Bangladesh
According to Geo News, Shan Masood is set to retain the Test captaincy for Pakistan's upcoming two-match red-ball series against Bangladesh in August.
This decision comes amid growing dissatisfaction within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding Babar's leadership, particularly after the disappointing T20 World Cup 2024 performance.
Adding a new dimension to Pakistan's red-ball strategy, former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie will debut as Pakistan's Test head coach during the Bangladesh series. His appointment signals a fresh approach as the team seeks to rebound from recent setbacks.
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Masood's elevation to Test captaincy followed Babar Azam's decision to relinquish his captaincy duties in all formats after the ODI World Cup last year.
Shaheen Afridi then took over as the T20I skipper, but his tenure was short-lived. The pacer’s captaincy ended in April this year, after a disastrous series against New Zealand, where Pakistan faced a 4-1 drubbing.
Before the T20 World Cup began, the PCB reinstated Babar Azam as the white-ball captain in what they termed a "strategic move." The board's hopes were high with the addition of Gary Kirsten as the white-ball head coach, aiming to revitalize Pakistan's fortunes.
However, the plan backfired spectacularly. Pakistan's campaign was derailed early with back-to-back losses to the USA and arch-rivals India, which put them on the brink of elimination.
Despite a strong comeback with a convincing win against Canada, Pakistan's fate was sealed when the USA advanced to the Super 8. Pakistan's World Cup journey will officially end with a match against Ireland in Florida this Sunday.
The recent debacle has put doubts over Babar Azam's leadership credentials. While he was briefly brought back as the white-ball captain, the PCB's gamble didn't pay off, leaving them in a quandary about the team's direction.
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