Babar Azam's Captaincy: A Tale of Unfulfilled Potential

 

Babar Azam’s journey as Pakistan's captain began with high expectations, yet his tenure has been marked by a string of setbacks that overshadow the initial hopes for success. As the first captain in Pakistan’s history to lead the team in seven major tournaments without winning a single trophy, his time at the helm exposed the gaps between talent and leadership. Well stepping down as captain, Babar has made a commendable decision.

Unprecedented Failures in Major Tournaments

Babar Azam is the first captain in Pakistan’s cricketing history to have led the team in seven major tournaments without winning any silverware. Despite high expectations, Pakistan faltered in:

T20 World Cup 2021

T20 World Cup 2022

Asia Cup 2022

Asia Cup 2023

ICC World Test Championship (2021-2023)

ODI World Cup 2023

T20 World Cup 2024

The 2023 ODI World Cup, in particular, marked one of the darkest chapters in Pakistan’s cricket history. For the first time ever, Pakistan lost five matches in a single World Cup campaign, and their four consecutive defeats were a new low for the team. The Asia Cup 2023 was no different, as Pakistan ended in the last spot during the Super 4 stage, their worst performance in the tournament's history.

A Decline in Pakistan’s Fortress of Defending 270+ Scores

Under Babar’s captaincy, Pakistan lost their grip over what was once their forte — defending totals over 270. Between 1975 and 2019, Pakistan defended such scores 14 out of 15 times in World Cups. However, in the 2023 World Cup, they only managed one win in three matches when defending similar scores.

Unforgettable Defeats

While no captain is immune to defeats, Babar’s tenure saw Pakistan suffer losses that were unprecedented:

First T20I and World Cup loss to Zimbabwe

First ODI and World Cup loss to Afghanistan

First World Cup loss to South Africa since 1999

Babar also led Pakistan to a defeat against Zimbabwe in a T20 series on Zimbabwean soil, a massive blow to the nation’s cricketing prestige. His inability to secure victories even against lesser-ranked teams left fans disillusioned.

Home Record and Foreign Struggles

Babar's captaincy witnessed Pakistan’s invincibility at home being shattered. Pakistan lost four consecutive home Test matches, an embarrassing first for the nation. Australia, England, and even West Indies — once minnows — took advantage of a side struggling under leadership.

In foreign tours, Pakistan also crumbled. Losses in T20 and Test series against Australia in Australia, as well as being whitewashed by England B teams in ODIs and England’s main side in Tests, further punctuated Babar’s struggles as a captain. Pakistan’s once-famed dominance in the subcontinent too was reduced, as they lost home and away series against Sri Lanka and leveled a T20 series against New Zealand's B team.

PSL Woes and T20 Rankings Collapse

Babar’s leadership failures were not limited to international cricket. In the Pakistan Super League (PSL), he became the first captain to lose nine matches out of ten, a statistic that left many questioning his tactical acumen. In another blemish, his team lost twice despite scoring 240+ runs in PSL matches — another unwanted first.

Under his captaincy, Pakistan’s T20 ranking slipped from 1st to 5th. Babar inherited a Pakistan team ranked:

5th in ODI

6th in Test

1st in T20

By the time he stepped down, Pakistan’s T20 ranking had plunged to 5th, while Test rankings showed no improvement. In ODI cricket, the team only improved by one spot, despite Babar being hailed as the number-one ODI batter.

Individual Brilliance, Team Failure

While Babar’s personal achievements have been lauded — holding the number-one spot in ODI rankings — his performances in ICC events and major tournaments often left much to be desired. Despite playing 52 matches in ICC events, including the Asia Cup, Babar has only managed to win one "Man of the Match" award, a reflection of how his individual brilliance hasn’t translated into impactful performances when it mattered the most.

A Win Percentage Decline in World Cups

Under the captaincy of Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Sarfraz Ahmed, Pakistan’s win percentages in ODI World Cups were consistently respectable:

2011: 71% (Afridi)

2015: 57% (Misbah)

2019: 63% (Sarfaraz)

Under Babar, Pakistan’s win percentage in the 2023 World Cup plummeted to just 44%, despite the team being ranked number one before the tournament. This stark contrast underlines the disappointment of Babar's captaincy tenure.

The Legacy of Missed Opportunities

Cricket, especially in Pakistan, remembers captains who deliver trophies. Imran Khan, Younis Khan, and Sarfraz Ahmed are revered because they led Pakistan to World Cup and Champions Trophy victories. For Babar, the inability to secure a single major trophy will likely haunt his legacy. Despite a win over India in the 2021 T20 World Cup — Pakistan’s first-ever World Cup victory against their arch-rivals — his tenure was defined by inconsistent performances, major tournament heartbreaks, and missed opportunities.

In a country where cricket captains are immortalized for their victories, Babar Azam’s reign will likely be remembered for the opposite: a leadership period marked by unrealized potential and moments that could have been.

As he steps down, Pakistan’s future leadership will face the immense task of rebuilding the team, not just from a tactical perspective but from a psychological one as well. The wounds of Babar Azam’s tenure run deep, and only time will tell if Pakistan can rise again under new leadership.

Thank you for your services Babar Azam!