Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary Indian opener, didn’t hold back in criticizing Pakistan’s frequent changes in captaincy. He urged the team management to be patient and give their leaders enough time to achieve better results on the field.
In addition to his criticism, Gavaskar also stood behind Babar Azam, showing support for the Pakistani cricket star despite his recent struggles with form. Babar has been having a tough time across different formats, which has sparked debates about his standing as one of the top batters globally.
Also, it’s worth noting that Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed India’s unconventional plan to dismiss Travis Head during the Champions Trophy semi-final.
### Gavaskar Questions Pakistan’s Leadership Approach
Gavaskar didn’t mince words when he took a swipe at Pakistan’s team management for their habit of frequently replacing the captain. He stressed the importance of allowing a captain to settle and prove themselves, instead of playing musical chairs with leadership.
He was quoted by ARY News as saying, “If the plan is to switch captains after every tournament, you might as well assign a different captain for each game. Isn’t it absurd to keep changing captains repeatedly? Give them the time to devise and execute a strategy.” This remark highlights Pakistan’s tendency to not stick with a consistent management team or leadership structure over the years, resulting in many players trying their hand at the captaincy without much success.
Last year saw Mohammad Rizwan take over the role of white-ball captain from Babar Azam, who stepped down. While Rizwan did lead the team to astonishing series victories in Australia and South Africa, recent performances at the Champions Trophy have cast doubt on his leadership skills as well.
### Gavaskar Expresses Confidence in Babar Azam
Despite the setbacks, Gavaskar remains confident that Babar Azam will rediscover his form soon. Drawing parallels to Virat Kohli’s previous slump, Gavaskar believes Babar will soon find his touch again.
“Virat Kohli also went through a lean patch, yet no one in Indian cricket questioned his place on the team. Babar Azam is exceptionally talented, and if memory serves, no one has scored more centuries for Pakistan than he has,” Gavaskar commented.
Babar is undeniably navigating the toughest phase of his cricketing career, with his struggle for runs raising additional questions about his capabilities. A few months back, he faced exclusion from Pakistan’s Test lineup during the home series against England. However, he returned for the South Africa tour, managing to rack up 193 runs in two Tests, averaging 48.25.
### Pakistan’s Disheartening Champions Trophy Run
Pakistan’s recent stint in the Champions Trophy ended on a sour note with a disappointing early exit from the group stage, suffering defeats by New Zealand and India in their first two matches. This represented the country’s first ICC tournament on home soil in 29 years, adding insult to injury.
Pakistan’s performance in these games was notably underwhelming, failing to stand up to their opponents. The final match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain, leaving Pakistan without a win in the tournament. Consequently, they ended at the bottom of Group A with just a single point from three games.
