The pioneers of Pakistan’s limited-overs teams on Wednesday found themselves scaleless. This was the outcome of Babar Azam’s resignation from the leadership position, widening a management vacuum which analysts claim has severely hampered the team’s performance on the international stage. After a string of crushing defeats, Pakistani cricket appears to be in a tailspin in all formats with a disturbing trend of changing administrators at the top and insinuations of corruption in the game. Azam made his announcement on his personal social network just before midnight on Tuesday well ahead of a communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which came more than 12 hours after his statement.
Want of a better phrase, Pakistani cricket has seen four coaches, three board heads and four captains in the last two years and at the same time, it has been moving down the international standings.
“It’s a leadership crisis,” former Pakistan captain Rahid Latif told AFP. “Pakistan cricket is in the ICU with no specialist for treatment.”
Azam’s announcement came, quite ironically, on the day England boarded a flight to the sub continent for their next assignment in a three-match Test series against Pakistan.
The gifted cricketer was stripped of captaincy in all formats of the game following Pakistan’s dismal performance in the World Cup, held in November last year. Afterwards, the seasoned batter turned out to be the captain for the second time in Pakistan’s cricket history.
Then again, it was in March he took the lead of white ball games but only for six months before deserting his country, leaving the nation with no head as they prepared for four major series and the Champions Trophy the following year.
Azam was still in charge when Pakistan was knocked out of The T20 by the debutant country, America, under excruciating circumstances.
He stated that he relinquished the captaincy in order to concentrate on his primary role as a batsman.
“Again, I think he should never have accepted the captaincy,” said Latif.
“The team was not winning and he wasn’t getting runs to boast about either,” he stated. “This quitting has come in very much late and that has hurt him and the team as well.”
On Wednesday, the PCB said that the national selection committee will start looking for a replacement.
“He is of the view that if he narrows down his focus on batting, he will be able to contribute positively for the side in a more significant way in the short formats,” added a statement from the PCB.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan is considered the favorable candidate for the position.
Azam is expected to feature in the Test series against England that will take place in Multan on Monday. However, red-ball captain Shan Masood has also been pressured to resign due to poor performance.
Under his management, which started last year, Pakistan has lost any five matches, including all the five played since last year.
He stated that he relinquished the captaincy in order to concentrate on his primary role as a batsman.
“Again, I think he should never have accepted the captaincy,” said Latif.
“The team was not winning and he wasn’t getting runs to boast about either,” he stated. “This quitting has come in very much late and that has hurt him and the team as well.”
On Wednesday, the PCB said that the national selection committee will start looking for a replacement.
“He is of the view that if he narrows down his focus on batting, he will be able to contribute positively for the side in a more significant way in the short formats,” added a statement from the PCB.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan is considered the favorable candidate for the position.
Azam is expected to feature in the Test series against England that will take place in Multan on Monday. However, red-ball captain Shan Masood has also been pressured to resign due to poor performance.
Under his management, which started last year, Pakistan has lost any five matches, including all the five played since last year.
