Babar Azam To Be Sacked As Captain After World Cup, THESE 3 Players Underlined As Captaincy Options: Report

Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sarfaraz Ahmed are being seen as three likely captains to remove Babar Azam from the leadership position if Pakistan don't make it to World Cup semis.

Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi (Image: AP)

After suffering three back-to-back losses in the Cricket World Cup 2023, captain Babar Azam finds himself under massive pressure. Former cricketers, including Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja, have slammed the Pakistani captain for being too conservative and less creative as captain. As per a report in Press Trust of India, he could be replaced as captain after the World Cup. 

There are three players who could take up the job. They are Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan and Safaraz Ahmed. Not to forget, the report says that Pakistan may opt to  have different captain for three formats of the game.  

A PCB source told PTI that untill unless Pakistan pull off a miracle in the World Cup and qualify for the semifinals, there will be repercussions of the poor show. "Only if Pakistan can stage a miracle and win all their remaining matches to qualify for the semi-finals of this World Cup does Babar stand any chance of surviving as captain and even then he might be relegated to skipper in just the red ball format," said the source.

Ramiz Raja:When I interviewed Babar Azam after defeat against Afg he looked very depressed, lost in memory.
Stay strong Captain _! True fans are behind you pic.twitter.com/iEhGv8NQ6r — ZAINI_ (@ZainAli_16) October 25, 2023

Babar was given the team of his choice for the World Cup and that has put extra pressure on him. That means he is accountable for all the results from the tournament. As per the report, members ofthe technical committee Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez had recommended a few changes in the World Cup squad but Babar refused all of them. PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf backed Babar too. "It is over for Babar because he has been given unbridled power and authority as captain and more importantly he has always had players of his choice in the team," said the source.

"There has never been any attempt to reduce his authority and so he is now being held solely responsible for the Asia Cup and World Cup defeats," the source added.

Misbah, while speaking on A sports after loss to Afghanistan, had said that he had even advised to take mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed in the World Cup squad but that was not taken by Babar.

"Sarfaraz might win the nod to captain the Test and ODI sides again while Shaheen may get a chance to be the T20 captain," the source added. Sarfaraz is currently not part of the World Cup squad.

Even the coaching staff is under the scanner after the terrible campaign.  Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn, Mornie Merkel, Andrew Puttick and manager Rehan ul Haq may all coule be sacked if Pakistan return home only after the group stage.