Shoaib Malik on what he would do in Babar Azam’s place: Would have immediately resigned from captaincy

Pakistan cricket team ended their T20 World Cup campaign with a narrow three-wicket victory over Ireland in their last Group A clash in Lauderhill.

Chasing a target of 106 set by Ireland, Pakistan were 62/6 at one stage before skipper Babar Azam, who has earned plenty of criticism for his slow approach, guided them home with a 34-ball 32-run innings.

There has been clamour back in Pakistan about Babar Azam retaining his captaincy after this disastrous campaign.

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said on Sunday that if he were in Babar Azam’s shoes.

“(If I were in Babar Azam’s shoes), I would have immediately resigned from captaincy to focus on my cricket. this has happened to me as well (when he was captain of the Pakistan cricket team). And later I was offered captaincy of the national team again for a year in 2009-10. I didn’t accept. I just wanted to focus on my cricket. Babar Azam’s numbers back this. But let’s keep numbers aside. If Babar Azam can be better and can play for Pakistan, then definitely (he should focus on cricket). A captain is someone who can create players for the team,” Shoaib Malik said as a guest on a show called The Flick on Ten Sports.

Babar Azam’s captaincy record and numbers

Shoaib Malik also pointed out that Babar Azam has captained Pakistan in 147 matches. He said under Babar Azam’s captaincy Pakistan played in six ICC tournaments, including ODI World Cups, three T20 World Cups and two Asia Cups, but had failed to win any one. He also said that Babar Azam has “never rested himself” in any game as captain of Pakistan.

“So there is nothing that backs the notion that he should stay on as captain,” said Shoaib Malik.

In T20Is, as captain of the Pakistan national team, Babar Azam has played 77 innings where he has scored 2610 runs at an average of 37.28 and at a strike rate of 129.98. But in the 38 matches he has played for Pakistan without having the responsibility of captaincy weighing heavy on his shoulders, his average rises to 48.48.

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