Mohammad Amir Opposes Babar Azam’s Return as Pakistan Test Captain

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has expressed his disagreement with the decision to reappoint Babar Azam as Pakistan Test captain, saying the additional responsibility could negatively affect the star batter’s performance.

Talking to the Wisden website about cricket in the recent interview, Amir has stated that Babar Azam’s return to the Test side was a recent process following a challenging phase and putting him in the Test captain role might be too early.

“I think Babar has just started performing well again after a long time. Giving him the responsibility of leading the Test team at this stage will only increase the pressure on him,” Amir said.

Former left-arm bowler said that Pakistani cricketers are always on trial and they have been held accountable for every outcome. Amir says that Babar must concentrate on his batting and not take the responsibility of captaincy.

He added that Babar can bat without the pressure as captain because he is the only batter on whom Pakistan can fully bank.

Mohammad Amir Backs Babar Azam as Pakistan’s Best Batter

Mohammad Amir, who was against the captaincy decision, praised Babar Azam and termed him as the best player of Pakistan. He, however, said that the decision to bring Babar back as Test captain was not proper for the player or the team.

Amir thinks Babar should focus just on his bowling because his consistency and match-winning power could be more valuable for Pakistan.

Babar Azam Previously Led Pakistan in Test Cricket

Babar Azam was previously the captain of the Pakistan Test team from 2020 to 2023, guiding the team to victory in several bilateral series and ICC World Test Championship matches.

Former players and supporters have mixed feelings about his comeback, with many questioning if his leadership role will affect his batting.

Mohammad Amir’s remarks have now brought a new angle to the ongoing debate on Babar Azam’s Test leadership and Pakistan’s leadership approach.