Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has strongly advised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) against making any changes to the team’s captaincy. Akmal believes that the focus should be on improving the team’s fundamental skills rather than replacing the captain.
Akmal’s comments come amidst reports that Babar Azam could potentially lose his role as captain of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team. Mohammad Rizwan is reportedly being considered as a leading candidate to replace Azam.
Akmal questioned the timing of the potential change in leadership, especially considering Pakistan’s recent setbacks under Azam’s captaincy. He pointed out that the team has failed to perform well in major tournaments such as the Asia Cup, ODI World Cup, and T20 World Cup.
“Why they wanted to bring a change now if they did not do that after losing the Asia Cup, ODI World Cup, and T20 World Cup? What difference does it make [by the way],” Akmal said.
Akmal believes that appointing a new captain will not solve the team’s problems. He emphasized the importance of players performing their basic tasks correctly to avoid mistakes.
“Is it because the captain is not their favourite, and they want one of their choice? Do you think the new captain will bring Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, or Mitchell Starc into the team to boost its performance? If they do not get their basics right, then such blunders will continue to happen, and replacing captains will make no difference,” he suggested.
Akmal also criticized the PCB’s decision to reappoint Babar Azam as captain of the white-ball format just before the T20 World Cup. He believes that the move was a “strategic mistake” that did not benefit the team.
“Babar Azam has stepped down as the captain of Pakistan’s cricket team in all formats after the team’s early exit from last year’s ODI World Cup. Recently, he was reinstated as the captain for the white-ball format, just before the T20 World Cup. This move replaced Shaheen Shah Afridi, who had led Pakistan in a single series against New Zealand, where Pakistan faced a 4-1 series defeat. The PCB explained reappointing Babar as a ‘strategic move’,” Akmal said.
Akmal concluded by urging the PCB, the captain, the coach, and the selectors to set their direction right and reform their thinking. He believes that this is the only way to improve the team’s performance and achieve success in future tournaments.
