Babar Azam has recently faced criticism for the team’s lack of cohesion and creativity as Pakistan‘s performance has significantly declined in the white-ball format. His leadership has come under intense scrutiny, with calls from the many cricket experts for him to be replaced as captain.

Babar Azam’s poor record as a captain

This isn’t the first time Babar has faced such pressure; he stepped down from the captaincy in all formats after Pakistan’s failure in the ODI World Cup 2023, only to return to the role earlier this year. However, Babar’s captaincy was again questioned following Pakistan’s embarrassing first-round exit in the T20 World Cup 2024, which their arch-rivals India ultimately won.

Also READ: Pakistan legend Younis Khan names a surprising pick to replace Babar Azam as T20I captain

Personal relationship and communication

Now, former Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik has publicly addressed the ongoing challenges faced by Babar, emphasizing the need for the star batter to remain resilient. In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Malik expressed his support for Babar and shared his thoughts on leadership roles within the team.

“Ups and downs are a part of life, especially when you are a cricketer from the subcontinent. He needs to stay strong during this time. I know he has a personality that embraces challenges; right now, it’s a downtime, but good times will come too,” Malik said.

Malik reassured fans and critics that despite recent issues, his relationship with Babar remains strong. “It’s not that he is far from me; that’s definitely not the case. Whenever he needs to talk or I need to talk, we do,” Malik explained, dispelling rumors of any rift.

Shoaib Malik’s views on Captaincy

Discussing Babar’s role as captain, Malik suggested that Babar might benefit from focusing solely on his batting. “As for his captaincy, my firm stance is that he should play only as a player. That’s my opinion. When he plays as a player, he can do wonders for the team. But in my opinion, he should stay away from leadership,” the 42-year-old added.

Endorsement of potential candidate

Malik also endorsed Fakhar Zaman as a potential candidate for captaincy as Fakhar, known for his aggressive style of play, could bring a fresh approach to Pakistan’s leadership. “According to today’s fearless cricket, Fakhar Zaman should be considered for white-ball captaincy because he has the sense and leadership capacity for it,” Malik concluded.

Also READ: Mohsin Naqvi breaks silence on Babar Azam’s future as Pakistan captain after T20 WC humiliation