Following a Test series defeat to England, Pakistan cricket is undergoing a sweeping shake-up. After a string of players and coaching staff were removed, former Pakistani cricketer Rashid Latif has raised the question of whether captain Babar Azam’s name could be next on that list.
After losing the Test series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sacked seven cricketers and several members of the coaching staff. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have also lost their positions. At the same time, Misbah-ul-Haq stepped down from his role as selector. Reports suggest chief selector Aaqib Javed may also be next in the PCB’s line of fire.
Amid this situation, Rashid has directly questioned Babar’s future. In a post on social media platform X, he questioned the PCB’s style of managing the team, asking whether Babar would be the next target.
Rashid wrote, “If the team has to be run by remote control, then why were Sarfaraz and Umar Gul sent packing? Why were Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie stripped of selection powers? And if captain Babar Azam wasn’t listening, then the captain should have been sacked — so why were Sarfaraz and Umar Gul removed instead? Is Babar Azam the next target?”
Rashid had earlier commented that Babar should have given up the captaincy over the PCB’s sackings. He said that after several of the team’s players and coaches were removed, Babar should have stood by them.
On this, Rashid said, “Babar should have resigned. Half the team has been sent home. If I were in his place, I would have given up the captaincy. You’ve become a puppet captain. There is a difference between a leader and a captain.”
Sharply criticizing Babar, Rashid added, “You sent seven players back. I understand the situation with Imam, he was injured. But even so, six players are being sent home. You sent back your coach, your mentor. You removed the coach who won you the Champions Trophy. You also sent Umar Gul back. You are not standing up for your team. Your coach was pushed aside, and you’re sitting there in silence. This shows the PCB always needs a puppet captain.”