Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has questioned Babar Azam’s decision to return as Test captain, arguing that the star batter should have continued his career solely as a player.
Akram made the comments alongside former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis at a charity fundraising event in Manchester, while discussing Pakistan’s troubled Test tour of England.
“I do not want to blame anyone, and I could be wrong as well,” Akram said. “But in my opinion, Babar should not have taken the captaincy. All of this was unnecessary.”
Wasim Akram Questions Babar’s Lack of Information
Akram’s remarks came after Pakistan made major changes during the England tour following defeats in the first two Tests of the three-match series.
Before the third Test in Birmingham, Babar was asked during the toss about the decision to send seven players home and make changes to the coaching staff. The Pakistan captain said he was unaware of the developments.
That response drew a sharp reaction from Akram, who questioned how a captain could remain uninformed about significant decisions affecting his team.
“Babar Azam said he did not know. If you don’t know, then what were you doing here? Were you here to sell chickpeas?” Akram said sarcastically.
The former captain also stressed the importance of trust and support between a captain and his players.
“As a player or as a person, I believe that if your leader or captain does not stand by you, you cannot give 100 percent,” he said.
Akram Says Babar Should Have Stepped Down
Akram suggested that Babar could have relinquished the captaincy after Pakistan’s second Test defeat and remained with the squad as a player.
“My suggestion is that after the second Test, Babar should have said that he would play only as a player,” he added.
The comments come during another difficult period for Pakistan’s Test side, which faced significant changes in both its playing group and coaching setup during the England series.
Babar’s Test Captaincy Returns
Babar was appointed Pakistan’s Test captain on July 5, replacing Shan Masood ahead of the team’s tours of the West Indies and England.
He had previously captained Pakistan in Test cricket from 2020 to 2023, leading the side in 20 matches. Pakistan won 10 of those Tests, lost six and drew four.
His second stint began with a split result in the West Indies, where Pakistan drew the two-Test series 1-1.
The England tour, however, proved far more difficult.
England won the opening Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs before claiming a 194-run victory at Lord’s. After the second defeat, the Pakistan Cricket Board made sweeping changes, sending seven players back home and reshaping the coaching setup.
The changes did not produce an immediate turnaround. England went on to win the third Test at Edgbaston by eight wickets, completing a 3-0 series sweep.
Akram’s comments have added another layer to the debate surrounding Babar’s leadership role and Pakistan’s handling of the Test team during the England tour.
