Mohammad Amir questions Babar Azam’s Test captaincy return

Should Pakistan's best batter lead the team—or simply lead with the bat?

LAHORE: Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has questioned the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to reappoint Babar Azam as the national Test captain, saying the star batter should have been allowed to focus entirely on his batting rather than taking on the added responsibility of leadership.

Babar recently returned as Pakistan’s Test skipper after replacing Shan Masood, whose tenure ended after 16 matches, during which Pakistan recorded four wins and suffered 12 defeats.

The appointment marks Babar’s second stint as Test captain, having previously led the national side from 2020 to 2023. The PCB’s decision has generated considerable discussion among former players and cricket analysts, with opinions divided over whether the move will strengthen the team’s performance.

Speaking during an interview with Wisden, Amir said he was not convinced that handing the captaincy back to Babar was the right decision, especially at a time when the batter had only recently regained his form after a prolonged lean patch.

According to Amir, Babar’s improved performances with the bat should have been the team’s primary priority, rather than placing additional expectations on him through captaincy.

“He has only just started performing well again after a long period. He’s finally looking in good rhythm,” Amir said, suggesting that leadership duties could once again distract him from maintaining consistency with the bat.

The former left-arm pacer also highlighted the intense scrutiny faced by Pakistan’s captains, noting that media attention and public expectations make the role particularly demanding.

He argued that every decision taken by the captain is closely examined, creating constant pressure both on and off the field. In his view, such an environment could affect a player’s confidence and performance if they are already carrying the responsibility of being the team’s leading batter.

Amir, who represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 One-Day Internationals and 62 T20 Internationals, described Babar as the country’s finest batter and said his greatest contribution comes through scoring runs.

“I believe Babar should have played as a player with a free mind and less pressure because he is the best player Pakistan has right now,” he said.

While stressing that his remarks reflected his personal opinion, Amir concluded that reappointing Babar as Test captain was not the ideal solution for Pakistan cricket. He added that protecting the team’s premier batter from additional pressure would have been a better long-term strategy as Pakistan looks to rebuild its Test fortunes.