Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi recently voiced his concerns about Babar Azam’s leadership skills while also extending support for him to continue leading the team, especially during the upcoming Test series against Australia.
In a recent media interaction in Karachi, Afridi expressed his admiration for Babar Azam, acknowledging the criticisms he faced for questioning Babar’s captaincy. “I am a big fan of Babar, and so are many others. People criticized me for criticizing Babar’s captaincy. Babar has always been like a younger brother to me,” Afridi said.
Disappointment with Babar’s Captaincy Progression
However, Afridi conveyed disappointment at Babar’s captaincy tenure, highlighting that despite substantial support, the 28-year-old hasn’t yet proven himself as a captain and leader. “I wanted Babar to be among the top captains. He has been leading for 3-4 years, and during this time, there was never a threat to his captaincy. We all supported him, hoping his experience would make him better. But that hasn’t happened. We’ve seen a lot of mistakes,” Afridi remarked.
Emphasizing Collaborative Leadership
Afridi emphasized the importance of collective teamwork in successful leadership, suggesting that a leader should unite several performers rather than relying on one or two individuals. “A leader has to be strong and take everyone along with him. It’s not just one or two players; it’s about 7-8 performers moving forward together,” he added.
Despite his criticisms, Afridi maintained that there should be no immediate changes in the captaincy, especially with the impending Australia tour. “The Australia series is significant, and I understand the responsibility. I don’t think there should be any changes in captaincy, especially in Test cricket. Babar Azam should continue to lead,” Afridi concluded.
Anticipation Builds for Australia-Pakistan Test Series
The first Test between Pakistan and Australia is scheduled to commence at Perth Stadium on December 14, marking the beginning of an intense series between the two cricketing nations. The matches set to take place in Canberra, Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), and Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) further heighten the anticipation for this thrilling series.
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