Former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar backed Babar Azam to continue as Pakistan’s captain despite the Green Shirts suffering a group-stage exit at the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.
Pakistan lost to the United States (USA) and India in their first two matches of the T20 World Cup after which their fate was dependent on the match between the USA and Ireland, which was washed out in Florida and the home side steered to the Super 8.
Pakistan had both matches, USA and India, in their grasp but they couldn’t emerge victorious as against the USA, they failed to defend 15 runs in the last over while against Rohit Sharma’s side, they had to chase 120 runs but couldn’t do it.
After Pakistan were eliminated from the 2023 ODI World Cup, Babar stepped down from captaincy across formats and Shaheen was given the captaincy for T20Is.
However, after just one series against New Zealand, which Pakistan lost 4-1, Shaheen was removed and Babar was re-appointed as the captain by Moshin Naqvi-led PCB.
Bangar, while talking to Star Sports, argued that there is still no one better than the 29-year-old to lead the Pakistan team while stating that he needs to be decisive as a captain.
"I still believe he is still the best man to lead Pakistan. He has to be a little bit more assertive in terms of the usage of the DRS as well. You can gauge your personality. It seems that he is letting others come into his way of decision-making. So, as a captain, you have to be decisive. That’s a quality that can be slightly more assertive. That can help his decision-making," Sanjay Bangar told Star Sports.
He then added that there are not many candidates to replace Azam as a skipper so the PCB should stick with him and provide him with good team and support.
There is no alternative as well, because Pakistan tried to do away with his captaincy after the 50-over World Cup debacle. But they had to go back to him again. It clearly shows that there are not a lot of potential captaincy candidates. So stick with Babar, give him the team, give him a good support system around him so that Pakistan can do well in the next World Cup," Bangar added.
- Babar Azam
