Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has stepped up in support of current national white-ball captain Babar Azam, emphasizing the lack of viable captaincy options within the country.
Babar Azam has been heavily criticized following Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, where they were eliminated in the group stage. Fans and critics alike have pointed fingers at Babar’s captaincy, calling for his removal.
Younis Khan Voices Support For Babar Azam
However, Younis Khan disagrees with these calls. He believes the real issue lies within Pakistan’s cricket infrastructure, which he says has failed to prepare adequate backup players.
“We give our views very quickly. If we talk about our current team, the players don’t have a fault. Instead, I will blame the infrastructure. If we don’t have the back-up, how will you replace the (out of form) players?” Younis stated in a recent interview.
Younis defended Babar and criticized past management and selection committees for not building a robust pool of players who could step up when needed.
“We generally speak that Babar Azam should not be the captain. If not Babar Azam, who else should be the captain?” he added.
“This isn’t Babar or current selection committee’s fault either. It’s a result of decisions made 5-6 years ago. We failed to build our bench strength,” Younis concluded.
Rapid Changes Hampering Progress
Younis also pointed out the frequent changes in leadership, from the PCB chairman to the captain and even the government, which have disrupted long-term planning.
“Changes are happening so quickly—the chairman, captain, and even our government changes so fast. So, who is doing the planning? This has been the case for the past ten years,” he concluded.
Moreover, a decision on Babar Azam’s captaincy is expected soon. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has stated that consultations with former Pakistan cricketers and white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten will guide the final decision.
In the wake of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup exit, the PCB has already taken action. Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz were sacked from the selection committee, and Riaz also lost his job as senior team manager. Additionally, team manager Mansoor Rana was removed from his post.
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