Babar Azam is getting ready to begin his tenure as Pakistan's new Test captain for the second time after being handed the responsibility ahead of the team's series against West Indies and England. Babar's return comes after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to replace Shan Masood, whose tenure as Test captain remained highly unsuccessful. Under Masood's captaincy, Pakistan could manage only four victories while suffering 12 defeats in 16 Test matches. And those poor results kept Pakistan at the bottom of the previous World Test Championship standings, and in the current cycle too, they have been unable to make any gains. Speaking on attaining the captaincy, Babar outlined three components, discipline, fitness, and performance, which, according to him, will be essential in building the team.
"It is an honour for me to be leading Pakistan again. I have learned from my past experience of leading the side and playing as a player. I am very confident this time and I feel I have improved and matured. So, I will be leading this team with better planning and a positive mindset this time around … There were negatives and positives in my last tenure, which I analysed and it provided me clarity," Babar said in the PCB's in-house digital interview as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
"My main focus is on discipline, fitness, and performance and there would be no compromise on them. They are of utmost importance for me to build this team. I have always backed the players whenever I have led the team, but that can only be done when there is a positive response from the players."
Pakistan have named a new-look squad for the upcoming tours of West Indies and England, dropping the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and spinner Noman Ali. It is important to know that Pakistan are under pressure to make comeback particularly after suffering a 2-0 series defeat against Bangladesh recently.
"This is a young team and it has best performers from our domestic circuit. I feel confident of leading this side because these all are the best players we have. As a senior player and captain, you have to be aware how you have to get performances out of them while keeping the environment calm, because international cricket is all about handling pressure. I talk to them about how they can handle different situations and remain focused," Babar said.