Babar Azam Faces Captaincy Questions After World Cup Exit

Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam returned home to Lahore amidst disappointment and questions about his captaincy following Pakistan’s early exit from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. England defeated Pakistan in their final group game, securing a fifth-place finish for Babar’s team on the ICC World Cup points table.
The defending champions England, led by a stellar performance from Ben Stokes, ended Pakistan’s campaign with a convincing 93-run victory at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The loss marked Pakistan’s second consecutive failure to progress to the business end of the ICC World Cup, raising concerns about Babar Azam’s leadership.
Upon his arrival in Lahore, Babar Azam was surrounded by security personnel and greeted by family members. Despite the disappointing campaign, he waved towards fans at the Lahore International Airport, displaying gratitude for their support.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to make crucial decisions regarding Babar’s future as the captain of the Pakistani side. Babar is scheduled to meet PCB chief Zaka Ashraf this week, where discussions about his captaincy and the team’s performance are expected to take place.
During the ODI World Cup in India, Pakistan, under Babar’s leadership, lost five out of nine matches. Additionally, Babar lost his top position in the ICC batting rankings to Indian opener Shubman Gill. The upcoming meeting between Babar and the PCB will likely shape the future leadership of the Pakistani cricket team.
Babar Azam took over as Pakistan’s white-ball captain in 2019 and assumed the role of Test captain in 2021. Under his captaincy, Pakistan achieved notable successes, breaking their World Cup jinx against India in 2021 and reaching the final of the T20 World Cup in Australia last year.
As Babar faces questions about his captaincy and the team’s performance, the cricketing community awaits the decisions and direction that the PCB will take in shaping the future of Pakistan’s cricket leadership.
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