In the last 12 years, Pakistan have had 10 different captains across formats!

[Titan24]

As the thread says Pakistan since 2007 has tried Malik, Younus, Yousuf, Afridi, Salman Butt, Misbah, Hafeez (T20s), Azhar (In ODIs), Sarfaraz and now Babar and Azhar. Which makes a total to 10 (Even If we consider Azhar just once). Hafeez and Butt while captained for small duration but were made full time captains with the intention to continue with them.

Avg: 1.2 year per captain

Below is the list of other full appointments and not just make shift appointments of Ind, Aus, SA, Eng and NZ for comparison (Avg considers appointed captains across the formats to give overall picture):

Since 2007 India just have had 2 captains in Dhoni and Kohli.

Avg: 6 years per captain

Australia had Ponting, Clarke, Watson (When Clarke was struggling with back issues), Bailey, Smith, Finch (In LOIs mainly but still considering him for overall Analysis), Paine (A forced change post Smith’s ban). Even after including Watson and Paine

Avg: 1.7 years per captain (Even after considering couple of forced changes)

South Africa had Smith, Kallis, Amla, Botha (In LOIs), Devilliers and Faf Duplesis. Prince and Elgar captained but were short term arrangements to injuries and unavailability of the main captains.

Avg: 2 years per captain

Eng had Strauss, Collingwood (In 20s and ODIs mainly), Pietersen, Cook, Morgan, Broad (In T20s), Root.

Avg: 1.7 years per captain

NZ had Vettori, Ross Taylor, Brenden Mccullum and Kane Williamson. Tim Southee is captaining in T20s but its just to rest Kane who will be the captain in T20 WC.

Avg: 3 years per captain


So the point is we have had the most number of full time captains (Overall atleast 3-4 more captains which is a big difference in this comparison) and some of them were out of the blue picks as well. Its never good for team morale and combination as it effects the consistency. Our results of last 12 years also represent the inconsistency and inconsistency in leadership have played a role as well.. Avg could have been a lot worse if Misbah wouldnt have captained for 5-6 straight years in teats and around 4-5 years in ODIs.

I hope atleast Babar is sticked for long term as changing and chopping the every year helps no one. Thought should be put in before appointing a captain that whether he is a performer himself and he is good enough to take the team forward rather than thinking after every year or so.

 

[Titan24]

Just to add Kumble was made full time test captain before Dhoni so that makes an avg of 4 for India. Short stints of Sehwag are still not being considered.

 

[King_Kohli]

Kohil will continue next 4 years easily

 

[King_Kohli]

Good Analysis

 

[King_Kohli]

You can further drill down based on format wise, that will give clear picture

 

[Titan24]

Good Analysis

Thanks.

 

[saeed5646]

Good work from quality poster

 

[MMHS]

The main reason for this is that in last 10-12 years, there hasn’t been any outstanding individual to lead in three formats for long and there is a clear lack of leadership quality. Misbah did manage Test side for 6 years and ODI for 4, while Sarfraz lead in three formats for almost three years and he was delayed in ODI by couple of years.

I think, biggest culprit was Amir - only player capable to lead in three formats, but he got himself banned at 19!!! Otherwise, I believe he would have led PAK in 6-7 ICC events and half a decade at least in Test. Babar is there, but a batting captain doesn’t last long for PAK - once the guy is put under batting pressure, it’ll be difficult for him to manage two jobs at a time in three formats.

 

[Titan24]

Good work from quality poster

Thanks Saeed.

 

[Titan24]

The main reason for this is that in last 10-12 years, there hasn’t been any outstanding individual to lead in three formats for long and there is a clear lack of leadership quality. Misbah did manage Test side for 6 years and ODI for 4, while Sarfraz lead in three formats for almost three years and he was delayed in ODI by couple of years.

I think, biggest culprit was Amir - only player capable to lead in three formats, but he got himself banned at 19!!! Otherwise, I believe he would have led PAK in 6-7 ICC events and half a decade at least in Test. Babar is there, but a batting captain doesn’t last long for PAK - once the guy is put under batting pressure, it’ll be difficult for him to manage two jobs at a time in three formats.

True. I think Younus could have become a decent captain if he had more emotional control when talking with the top management. Even Hafeez to an extent could have been a decent LoI skipper but I agree that Pak lacked outstanding Individuals. The ones who were great players like Younus, Yousuf they didnt have much emotional stability.

I understand the point regarding Amir as well he was intelligent and understood the game well along with the fact that historically Pak has fared well under bowling captains Imran and Wasim being the prime examples. It was unfortunate the way he destroyed his career as well as endless possibilities associated with it.

 

[Markhor]

PCB is to blame for allowing over the hill seniors to captain in domestic cricket and not grooming young captains from an early age.

It's only recently that's they've started clamping down on this otherwise the likes of Sohail Tavir and Salman Butt were skippering teams.

 

[Titan24]

PCB is to blame for allowing over the hill seniors to captain in domestic cricket and not grooming young captains from an early age.

It's only recently that's they've started clamping down on this otherwise the likes of Sohail Tavir and Salman Butt were skippering teams.

Valid point that young players should have been given more responsibility in leadership roles from the early age as that is only way they can be ready to to step up when required at national level.

Good that this is being encouraged in domestics now and I hope that even in PSL franchises also encourage this to an extent atleast.

 

[AFM]

It's better than the era between Inzy and Misbah where we had a new captain like every new series.

 

[CadPakFan]

I think Abbas can be a future candidate for captain if he preforms well.

 

[Boiz Played Well]

Good analysis bro.

Would just say though, the numbers look very different if you change the time period of data collection. 2007-2010 was a time of much turmoil in leadership in Pakistan cricket. Also, I think perhaps we should look at as you mentioned, official captaincy changes and forced changes (due to injury, fatigue etc.).

Like for India, Kohli and Dhoni were the only full-time captains, but Rahane, Raina, Gambhir and Rohit Sharma all had short-term captaincy stints during this period.

The data looks different if you calculate the last 10 years from 2010 onwards for Pakistan (2010-2020, since we're a month away from end of year).

Full-time ODI captains (2010-2020): Misbah, Afridi, Azhar and Sarfraz.
Avg.: 2.5 year per captain

Full-time T20 captains (2010-2020): Malik, Misbah, Afridi, Hafeez, Sarfraz, Babar.
Avg.: 1.7 year per captain

Full-time Test captains (2010-2020): Butt, Misbah, Sarfraz.
Avg.: 3.3 year per captain

(Azhar captained only one Test so arguably not a full-time captain)

Avg. across all formats: 2.5 years per captain.

 

[Boiz Played Well]

Good analysis bro.

Would just say though, the numbers look very different if you change the time period of data collection. 2007-2010 was a time of much turmoil in leadership in Pakistan cricket. Also, I think perhaps we should look at as you mentioned, official captaincy changes and forced changes (due to injury, fatigue etc.).

Like for India, Kohli and Dhoni were the only full-time captains, but Rahane, Raina, Gambhir and Rohit Sharma all had short-term captaincy stints during this period.

The data looks different if you calculate the last 10 years from 2010 onwards for Pakistan (2010-2020, since we're a month away from end of year).

Full-time ODI captains (2010-2020): Misbah, Afridi, Azhar and Sarfraz.
Avg.: 2.5 year per captain

Full-time T20 captains (2010-2020): Malik, Misbah, Afridi, Hafeez, Sarfraz, Babar.
Avg.: 1.7 year per captain

Full-time Test captains (2010-2020): Butt, Misbah, Sarfraz.
Avg.: 3.3 year per captain

(Azhar captained only one Test so arguably not a full-time captain)

Avg. across all formats: 2.5 years per captain.

Also averages at times tend to skew the data because the earlier period of this data set is an outlier. Statistically, the last 7+ years have been very stable in captaincy for Pakistan. So hopefully that's a sign of good things to come and we can continue on that especially in Babar.

 

[sshakir411]

Impatient awaam that has enough pull to force what they like. Axing of Saifi is proof of that

 

[Titan24]

Good analysis bro.

Would just say though, the numbers look very different if you change the time period of data collection. 2007-2010 was a time of much turmoil in leadership in Pakistan cricket. Also, I think perhaps we should look at as you mentioned, official captaincy changes and forced changes (due to injury, fatigue etc.).

Like for India, Kohli and Dhoni were the only full-time captains, but Rahane, Raina, Gambhir and Rohit Sharma all had short-term captaincy stints during this period.

The data looks different if you calculate the last 10 years from 2010 onwards for Pakistan (2010-2020, since we're a month away from end of year).

Full-time ODI captains (2010-2020): Misbah, Afridi, Azhar and Sarfraz.
Avg.: 2.5 year per captain

Full-time T20 captains (2010-2020): Malik, Misbah, Afridi, Hafeez, Sarfraz, Babar.
Avg.: 1.7 year per captain

Full-time Test captains (2010-2020): Butt, Misbah, Sarfraz.
Avg.: 3.3 year per captain

(Azhar captained only one Test so arguably not a full-time captain)

Avg. across all formats: 2.5 years per captain.

Thanks. Had to include 2007-10 as that is when the main turmoil effecting our cricket happened along with few events post 2010 as well. That rare event didnt take place for any of the other sides in the last two decades and that played a role in effecting our team overall.

2010 Misbah as the captain for a long period is improving the overall average, while definitely 2007-10 is skewing the data but the point I was trying to make was that how that frequent changes have effected Pakistan cricket and 2007-10 have played a major role in that. That 2007-10 captaincy turmoil had long long term effects and even post 2010 Hafeez leaving the T20 captaincy straight after the T20WC and Azhar being appointed captain of ODIs after nowhere just fuelled the fire further.

 

[Titan24]

Also averages at times tend to skew the data because the earlier period of this data set is an outlier. Statistically, the last 7+ years have been very stable in captaincy for Pakistan. So hopefully that's a sign of good things to come and we can continue on that especially in Babar.

True these last 7+ years have been stable but I think in terms of overall leadership especially in ODIs they could have been better. Yes Babar should be given a chance to prove and improve. Its after a long time we have a performing captain, someone who actually is a top player in the team.