Michael Atherton questions Babar Azam’s authority after major Pakistan changes

Former England cricketer and broadcaster Michael Atherton has raised serious questions over Babar Azam’s authority as Pakistan captain following a major shake-up of the national team.

Former England cricketer and broadcaster Michael Atherton has raised serious questions over Babar Azam’s authority as Pakistan captain following a major shake-up of the national team.

Pakistan have endured a difficult Test series against England, losing the first two matches of the three-Test series. The second Test at Lord’s ended in a heavy 194-run defeat for Pakistan, prompting the team management to make sweeping changes ahead of the final match.

Seven players were dropped from the squad and sent back home, while the changes also extended to the coaching staff. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were released from their respective roles. Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke subsequently took charge of the team ahead of the third Test at Edgbaston, scheduled to begin on September 9.

The revamped Pakistan squad also includes five uncapped players, making the situation particularly challenging for captain Babar Azam.

Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast alongside former England batter Nasser Hussain and journalist Osman Samiuddin, Atherton discussed the impact of Pakistan’s dramatic decisions.

Atherton argued that even if Pakistan manage to win the final Test with their new-look squad, the victory would not necessarily justify the manner in which the changes were made. He said the bigger concern was the potential long-term impact on the team.

According to Atherton, the sudden changes could make it extremely difficult for Babar to establish authority and provide stability to the side.

“I feel it’s a horrible position for a captain, Babar Azam, to be in – and what kind of authority does he or indeed any captain of Pakistan have in this outfit?” Atherton questioned.

The former England opener also compared the current role of captains with the situation several decades ago. He recalled the 1980s and 1990s, when national team captains often had considerably greater influence over team selection and management.

Atherton acknowledged that modern captains are not expected to have complete control over their teams. However, he stressed that a captain still needs a certain level of authority to successfully lead a side.

“They have to have some authority within a team,” he said.

With a new coaching setup, several experienced players removed from the squad and five uncapped players included, Atherton believes Babar faces a particularly difficult leadership challenge.

“Given what’s happened, how do you lead that team now?” he asked.

The comments have added to the debate surrounding Pakistan’s team management and the leadership responsibilities of Babar Azam ahead of the crucial final Test.