Pakistan likely to sack Babar Azam as captain, report says: Here's who could replace him

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Pakistan lost to India, it saw second loss against Australia on 20 October while the most ‘embarrassing loss’ came after Afghanistan thrashed Pakistan by 8 wickets which was also Afghanistan's first-ever win over Pakistan in eight ODIs. With this disastrous performance of the Pakistani team, reports have stated that Captain Babar Azam is likely to be replaced as the captain after the World Cup 2023.

After the World Cup, Pakistan is scheduled to tour Australia immediately. Moreover, the team also needs to plan for the 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

One reliable source close to the developments told news agency PTI that Babar might as well announce his resignation as captain if the team returns home without playing in the World Cup semifinals. “It is over for Babar because he has been given unbridled power and authority as captain and more importantly he has always had players of his choice in the team.

There has never been any attempt to reduce his authority and so he is now being held solely responsible for the Asia Cup and World Cup defeats," the source added as quoted by PTI. Sources pointed out that even for the Asia Cup and World Cup, Babar had obtained all 18 players he requested, despite urges from former captains Misbah ul Haq and Muhammad Hafeez to make certain changes for the event in India.

“The PCB Chairman, Zaka Ashraf ignored the advice of Misbah and Hafeez and some other former players whom he consulted as Babar was adamant he didn’t want changes in the team for the World Cup," the source said. As per PTI report, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Muhammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi are being discussed as potential candidates who could replace Azam as captain when the national team returns home from the