Pakistan’s ex-captain and prolific all-format batter, Babar Azam, is considered arguably the best batsman of this generation. With a Test average of 42.77, an ODI average of 55.17, and a T20I average of 39.83, his numbers speak for themselves. He is the fastest to 2,500 runs in T20Is, holds the record for most consecutive matches as a captain in T20Is (55), and is the fastest to 6,000 runs in ODIs (123 innings). Babar Azam’s batting career is full of accomplishments and dreams being realized — a dream career.
Caught between the crease and the captain’s chair.
But is it important and high time to separate his batting career from captaincy? The records suggest so.
2021 T20 World Cup – A Promising Start
Babar has led Pakistan in four ICC tournaments. In the 2021 T20 World Cup, Pakistan won five games consecutively, including a historic 10-wicket victory over India. Although Pakistan didn’t clinch the title and were beaten in the semi-finals, Babar started on a high. However, things started to get darker later.
Lost to Zimbabwe, saved by the Netherlands — Pakistan’s 2022 World Cup campaign defined by fate and fight.
In the 2022 T20 World Cup, Pakistan did play the final, but it’s important to note that they lost to both India and Zimbabwe. Losing to Zimbabwe at Perth was one of the darkest days in Pakistan’s history. However, thanks to the Netherlands, which caused an upset and defeated South Africa, Pakistan paved its way to the semi-finals. After defeating New Zealand in the semi-final, Pakistan lost the opportunity to win the title and fell to England in the final.
Ranked No.1 but nowhere near the final — the shocking downfall of Pakistan in 2023.
The 2023 ODI World Cup, a highly anticipated tournament in India, turned into a nightmare. Pakistan finished 5th and had a group-stage exit despite high hopes and being No.1 in the rankings. Pakistan lost to India, Australia, South Africa, and England, and only managed to beat New Zealand, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, and Bangladesh. Pakistan also lost to Afghanistan one-sidedly, another dark day, as Afghanistan thrashed Pakistan by 8 wickets. Babar had resigned from the captaincy after the 2023 World Cup but was made captain again before the 2024 T20 World Cup.
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2024 T20 World Cup nightmare — Pakistan’s early exit marked by the USA tragedy.
What followed was Pakistan’s worst T20 campaign. It started with a loss against the USA in a Super Over. USA, playing its first T20 World Cup, thrashed Pakistan in Dallas — a moment considered the lowest point in Pakistan’s cricketing history. Babar himself couldn’t impress much with the bat, where his strike rate was massively criticized. Pakistan couldn’t chase 120 in a low-scoring match against India in New York, losing that match as well. Pakistan got eliminated in the first stage as they could only beat Ireland and Canada.
Bright moments, bitter defeats — the tale of Pakistan’s Asia Cup struggles.
Babar also captained Pakistan in the 2022 Asia Cup T20, where Pakistan played the finals but lost one-sidedly to Sri Lanka. Shockingly, just two days before the finals, Pakistan played a group game against Sri Lanka and lost that game too. In the Asia Cup 2023, Pakistan got eliminated in the group stage, suffering a heavy defeat of over 200 runs from India and also losing to Sri Lanka.
From star player to captain under pressure — Babar’s PSL challenges.
This, however, is not the end of Babar’s stints as captain. Babar Azam has captained both Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL. In the 2022 season, Babar, while leading Karachi Kings, lost 9 games and could only win 1. The 2023 season was a bit better, where Peshawar under Babar reached the playoffs, winning 6 and losing 6. However, 2024 again was a slump, as Peshawar only won 5 and lost 6, failing to qualify for the playoffs for the very first time.
The Weight of Leadership – Turning Stars into a Team
Cricket is undoubtedly a team game, but a leader, for sure, can turn an average-looking team into a champion team. However, several times the star-studded teams under Babar have collectively looked average. Despite the presence of individual brilliance, the inability to spark unity and execution under pressure has continued to haunt Pakistan’s campaigns under his leadership.
Mental Toll – The Hidden Cost of Leadership
Babar Azam’s dip in form surely has many reasons, but the weight and burdens of captaincy surely do take a toll on his mental health. Babar is a batting genius, and his place surely is in no danger even if he doesn’t lead the side. Maybe it’s time for Babar to think of himself contributing in batting capacities, focusing solely on what he does best.
The Big Question – Should Babar Focus Solely on Batting?
Is it high time that Babar says no to captaincy and diverts his energy to his batting so we witness the vintage Babar? Or will we see another talent unfulfilled due to the pursuit of captaincy?
