Watch: Shahid Afridi calls for Babar Azam's removal as Pakistan captain

Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has openly expressed his belief that it is time for Pakistan to replace Babar Azam as the captain of the national cricket team. Afridi's comments came during a public event in Pakistan, where he shared his perspective on Babar Azam's captaincy and performance.

Afridi's criticism centered on what he sees as Babar Azam's inability to extract the best performance from his team during Pakistan's disappointing World Cup campaign in India. He pointed out that despite giving Babar ample time as captain, he believes that Babar has not been able to prove himself in the role.

Afridi acknowledged his admiration for Babar and clarified his stance on the matter, saying, "I am also a Babar fan. A lot of people have criticized me, thinking I am targeting Babar's captaincy. I have always wanted Babar to be counted among the best captains." However, he expressed his disappointment in Babar's performance as a leader, given the time he has been given in the role.

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He explained, "He was given 3-4 years as captain, and he was never put under pressure. We were hoping he would deliver results as the team's leader within that time frame. However, he was unable to achieve that and made several mistakes during his tenure."

Babar Azam is the captain of Pakistan team since four year, we all support him during that time but he could not improve in this period and could not prove him as a good leader: Shahid Afridi @SAfridiOfficial pic.twitter.com/dENpW66264

— ٰImran Siddique (@imransiddique89) November 13, 2023

Afridi emphasized the importance of a strong leader who can unify the team, not just relying on 1-2 players but having 6-8 players who consistently perform for the captain. In his view, Babar Azam lacks the leadership qualities possessed by cricketers like Younis Khan, who excelled at utilizing and motivating their players effectively.

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