Former Pakistan cricketer Urooj Mumtaz made a massive statement related to the current situation of the men’s team. She claimed that Babar Azam is unlikely to continue as captain and even the board will not retain him.
Babar Azam, as captain of the team, has come under serious scrutiny in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Under his leadership, the team seemed clueless in the ongoing tournament and faced an early exit, failing to reach the Super 8 stage of the tournament. .
Under the leadership of Babar Azam, Pakistan lost to the United States, which in itself was a big disappointment for the team. They also lost against India and were then eliminated from the tournament, managing only 1 win in the first three games they played in the tournament.
Babar Azam was removed as captain of the team after the ICC World Cup 2023. But after that, he was re-elected captain of the team. However, since then nothing has gone right as he lost a series against New Zealand C, lost a match against Ireland and then a series against England.
Since the team had a poor campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, there has been a lot of speculation about Babar Azam’s future as the captain of the team. Many believe that he will not continue as boss and the latest to join the bandwagon is Urooj Mumtaz.
Urooj Mumtaz believes that Babar Azam is unlikely to continue as captain but he is much more important as the team’s batsman. He also believes coach Gary Kirsten is interested in bringing new faces to the team. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, he explained:
“Yeah, I just think about how it was when he was captain, then they took him out and brought Shaheen, brought him back. After this performance, I don’t think he wants to continue either. I don’t know.” I don’t think the board will retain him as captain and Babar Azam, the batsman, is much more important for Pakistan in all three formats.
“He goes up the order, then his captaincy, which leaves a little to be desired, again, in all the ICC events that we have seen in the recent past. But I think Gary Kirsten is, at least what I can assess of him, Until now, it’s that he wants to move forward with a fresher group of players, especially in T20 or maybe even the whole white-ball format, both formats as well.”
I don’t see any leader who can take this team ahead of the current one – Urooj Mumtaz
Urooj Mumtaz further pointed out that the team’s players did not agree to take up the vice-captaincy and stated that Pakistan needs to get some players to groom as leaders. He stated that no one from the current lot can take the team forward. She added:
“The interesting thing, again, is how Pakistan prepared: they offered the vice-captaincy, the players said no, and they don’t have a vice-captain. What Pakistan will have to do is assign two or three leaders who can work, hire someone from the national environment and then spend a couple of years running for that leadership.
Because at the moment, at least in my opinion, I don’t see any leader who can take this team forward out of the 15 that currently travel with the team,” he concluded.
