Babar Azam etched his name in the record books by becoming the most successful T20I captain recently. His milestone was achieved after Pakistan’s convincing victory over Ireland in the second T20I match.
Surpassing the previous record held by Brian Masaba of Uganda, Babar now boasts an impressive tally of 45 wins in 78 matches as Pakistan’s skipper.
The significance of Babar’s achievement was duly acknowledged by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, who presented Babar with a special jersey commemorating his 45 wins as captain.
Babar’s leadership journey has been nothing short of remarkable. With 78 appearances as captain in T20Is, he also surpassed Aaron Finch’s record for the most appearances as captain.
Journey of Babar Azam as Captain
Babar Azam took charge of the national team for the first time in T20Is. He was appointed captain for the first time for the series against Australia in 2019, a month before he turned 25.
Despite starting with a series loss, his record as captain reflects excellence, with Pakistan maintaining a commendable win-loss ratio in T20Is. His win percentage of 57.69 is the fifth-highest among ICC full-member captains who led in 50 or more games.
Under his leadership, Pakistan clinched nine T20I series victories, including a memorable tr-series triumph in New Zealand. However, the last of them came in October 2022.
Notable highlights include reaching the semi-final and final of the T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
He also became the first Pakistan captain to defeat India in an ICC World Cup event, when he led his team to a ten-wicket victory over arch-rivals during the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Challenges and Resilience
Operating in one of cricket’s toughest captaincy roles, Babar has faced intense scrutiny and challenges. The Pakistan captaincy demands resilience amidst constant commentary and political instability.
Pakistan lost to Zimbabwe during the 2022 T20 World Cup, after which fans called for his removal, however, the team qualified for the finals miraculously, which silenced the voices.
His captaincy came once again under scanner after Pakistan recently leveled the home T20I series against a second-string New Zealand, followed by a loss against Ireland in the first T20I. However, the chairman of PCB has backed him as captain.
Despite criticism record suggest that he is arguably the best Pakistan captain in T20I cricket and he has the ability to lead Pakistan to World Cup glory, having come short twice in past.
As Pakistan gears up for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Babar’s leadership will be pivotal in guiding the team to success. While his records speak volumes, Babar needs to acknowledge the need to enhance his tactical acumen to lead Pakistan to victory on the global stage.
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