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[VIDEO] Babar Azam was appointed captain on the recommendation of Imran Khan

DeadlyVenom

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An interesting conversation from the recent interview with Piers Morgan that I am just catching up on.

Imran said he saw Babar bat twice and then told the board chairman that he must make him captain.

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Imran does not get everything right.

He was wrong about Manzoor Akhtar and this is a bad assessment as well. He was wrong about Mohammad Sami as well. The order to replace Mickey Arthur with Misbah ul Haq came from him. The order to replace Sarfaraz as captain came from him.
 
Imran does not get everything right.

He was wrong about Manzoor Akhtar and this is a bad assessment as well. He was wrong about Mohammad Sami as well. The order to replace Mickey Arthur with Misbah ul Haq came from him. The order to replace Sarfaraz as captain came from him.

Some players won’t make it regardless of what anyone says Sami was too erratic and couldn’t land 2 balls in the same place that’s not Imrans fault.
 
Well done Imran. Babar has after all taken Pakistan to the big Final. Anti-Pakistani posters will keep crying.
 
Imran does not get everything right.

He was wrong about Manzoor Akhtar and this is a bad assessment as well. He was wrong about Mohammad Sami as well. The order to replace Mickey Arthur with Misbah ul Haq came from him. The order to replace Sarfaraz as captain came from him.

His order to replace Sarfraz as captain was absolutely correct. He had been a non performer for a while now.
 
Sarfraz is an average player and a terrible captain.He is very volatile and loses his cool which means he loses control on the field.
 
Imran does not get everything right.

He was wrong about Manzoor Akhtar and this is a bad assessment as well. He was wrong about Mohammad Sami as well. The order to replace Mickey Arthur with Misbah ul Haq came from him. The order to replace Sarfaraz as captain came from him.

Off course he doesn't. When you make lots of decisions, you are bound to get some wrong. But if you get the big ones right, you become a legend
 
Some players won’t make it regardless of what anyone says Sami was too erratic and couldn’t land 2 balls in the same place that’s not Imrans fault.

Sami could bowl effortless 145/150k outswingers with an easy repeatable action. Anyone who sees that and doesn't get excited would be a fool.

You can't guess at the brain cells or commitment inside the body. In Imrans experience of seeing guys like Wasim & Waqar picked out, most guys can learn ok.

Mitchell Johnson was a similar find by DK Lillee in Oz. He had an unhappy hime life, sometimes not a home to go home to at all and was just playing low level cricket for friendships and something to do until DK saw that left arm rocket and the raw athleticisim.
 
Well done Imran. Babar has after all taken Pakistan to the big Final. Anti-Pakistani posters will keep crying.

Babar is superior to Sarfraz, who was a bit too volatile to guide and support such a young team. Young players can get anxious and lose confidence more quickly so some do better with a calm, steady approach- especially with so many young bowlers in the team.
 
Lets not get political.

Imran's decision may turn out to be correct.

But what is not correct is the fact that a PM can impose a captain after watching him play twice.

That's not the way to establish adequate standards in the game. Our cricketing institutions need to be strengthened from bottom-up, rather than top down impositions.
 
Why did it take Pak reaching final for Imran Khan to own this recommendation. Why didn't he say this when Pak lost to Zimbabwe? Opportunistic and making it about himself rather than the team that is out there keeping the dream of the nation alive.
 
Lets not get political.

Imran's decision may turn out to be correct.

But what is not correct is the fact that a PM can impose a captain after watching him play twice.

That's not the way to establish adequate standards in the game. Our cricketing institutions need to be strengthened from bottom-up, rather than top down impositions.

Bottom up doesn't work in Pakistan. Upper class have to make the decisions the lower classes aren't capable. Maybe not made the best decisions so far but you can't leave it to the masses in Pakistan. They aren't capable. Hence why democracy is a massive failure. 1999 to 2005 was Pakistan's best period before Musharff started to make poor decisions. Only martial law can control Pakistanis.
 
Sami could bowl effortless 145/150k outswingers with an easy repeatable action. Anyone who sees that and doesn't get excited would be a fool.

You can't guess at the brain cells or commitment inside the body. In Imrans experience of seeing guys like Wasim & Waqar picked out, most guys can learn ok.

Mitchell Johnson was a similar find by DK Lillee in Oz. He had an unhappy hime life, sometimes not a home to go home to at all and was just playing low level cricket for friendships and something to do until DK saw that left arm rocket and the raw athleticisim.

Sami had the tools but never had the mental toughness. 16 years after his debut, he was still overstepping twice in the final over against Ban trying to defend 9 runs. Think he bowled 5 wides as well. If you can't fix schoolboy mistakes in 16 years, you shouldn't be there at all.
 
Lets not get political.

Imran's decision may turn out to be correct.

But what is not correct is the fact that a PM can impose a captain after watching him play twice.

That's not the way to establish adequate standards in the game. Our cricketing institutions need to be strengthened from bottom-up, rather than top down impositions.

Right now, Imran Khan is institution. He was GOAT in his playing days
 
Imran does not get everything right.

He was wrong about Manzoor Akhtar and this is a bad assessment as well. He was wrong about Mohammad Sami as well. The order to replace Mickey Arthur with Misbah ul Haq came from him. The order to replace Sarfaraz as captain came from him.

You're right , IK supported Mansoor ( not Manzoor ) Akhtar a lot, as everyone thought he would the next big thing in Pakistan cricket due to Mansoor's great technique and his piling up of huge scores in domestic cricket, but Mansoor didn't have temperament for International cricket, just like Shafiq Papa.

But he was right about Wasim, Waqar, Aqib, Inzi , Mushi and Qadir.
 
Why did it take Pak reaching final for Imran Khan to own this recommendation. Why didn't he say this when Pak lost to Zimbabwe? Opportunistic and making it about himself rather than the team that is out there keeping the dream of the nation alive.

I don't understand Indians trying to make a point of Pakistan losing to Zimbabwe. South Africa lost or Netherland, England lost to Ireland but still managed to give a whopping of a lifetime to overrated Indian team.

Everyone is entitled to a bad day.
 
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Why did it take Pak reaching final for Imran Khan to own this recommendation. Why didn't he say this when Pak lost to Zimbabwe? Opportunistic and making it about himself rather than the team that is out there keeping the dream of the nation alive.

You and your hatered for Imran Khan is making you loose all your senses. Go and watch the video before commenting. He was asked a question by anchor which he answered. He was never asked any such question by any anchor before. He wasn't making a statemnt. He was just answering a question. If the same question was asked to him before, i am sure his answer would have been same. I think you are become brainless in your hatered towards khan.
 
Why did it take Pak reaching final for Imran Khan to own this recommendation. Why didn't he say this when Pak lost to Zimbabwe? Opportunistic and making it about himself rather than the team that is out there keeping the dream of the nation alive.

I'd rather we lose to Zim by 1 run than be slapped around and dished out a 10 wicket phainta... Only certain teams are capable of that
 
Imran also said Asif was the greatest new ball bowler he’s ever seen in his life.

ABD and Amla both say that he’s the best bowler they’ve faced. Kevin Pietersen as well. Amla stated it again early this year post career.

Shoaib Akhtar said the same. Despite the fight they had, and despite having seen Waqar and Wasim live with his own eyes, he maintains that Asif was the greatest fast bowler Pakistan has ever produced. He also said something else but the way he said it with humbleness I haven’t seen Shoaib speak like that before: “If you saw me bowl, you saw straightforward bowling. If you saw Asif bowl, you saw art. I told myself, Shame on you Shoaib Akhtar, this is what you call fast bowling (referring to the India-Pak test performance by Asif) ”
 
...and here we are - Babar has led Pakistan to a semi final and a final in 2 consecutive world cups, a final in Asia cup.

While highly rated captains have delivered nothing.

With people who are seers in their craft, such as Jobs for Apple or Einstein for science, you let them make the calls.

Imran isn't afraid of making bold calls - against all odds. I thought Dhoni was the same.

You know most of their bets will pay off.
 
Sami had the tools but never had the mental toughness. 16 years after his debut, he was still overstepping twice in the final over against Ban trying to defend 9 runs. Think he bowled 5 wides as well. If you can't fix schoolboy mistakes in 16 years, you shouldn't be there at all.

Absolutely true. The guy just went nowhere with all that natural talent that guys like Hasan Ali or almost anyone else would beg to have.

But we were discussing IK's judgement on players potential I thought. Not quite the same as whether they can improve and fulfil it.
 
Imran doesn’t follow cricket anymore and most of his opinions are ridiculous, but he is correct to back Babar as captain.

He is the only player in the team who can be considered world class in some capacity, and there is no doubt he is Pakistan’s best player.

I am of the opinion when you have a weak team like Pakistan does, captaincy has little to no impact.

No captain can win consistently with poor players, so there is no point in sweating too much over who should captain weak teams.

Just make the best player in the group the captain and stick with it.

It is the best way of ensuring that he can control the team and command respect.
 
And the hate misbah got for this that sarfraz been removed.

Now those ppl wont utter a word
 
Pm of country intefering in our cricket. Only in Pakistan and the same pm contradicts himself saying that institutions need to be left alone and not have ajyones influence.
 
Not only this he appointed Ramiz as chairman and walked the walk and actually made changes. This is all a culmination Khan's policies.
 
And the hate misbah got for this that sarfraz been removed.

Now those ppl wont utter a word

I will. Misbah should be thoroughly ashamed for accepting a job he was not qualified for. He should also be ashamed for his shameless yes man jee hazur behaviour when do much wrong doing was taking place around him. The hate is justified.
 
Pm of country intefering in our cricket. Only in Pakistan and the same pm contradicts himself saying that institutions need to be left alone and not have ajyones influence.

Have you forgotten that he is the sole ODI world cup winning captain of Pakistan? He Probably has the best cricketing eye then anyone else in Pakistan. Him becoming pm does not mean that people should that he is also a former cricketer and captain.
 
Received this piece of writing in Urdu from a friend... and used Google to tanslate it into English. Posting both because it is more fun to read it in Urdu.

ہر شکست کے بعد: بابر اعظم کپتان مٹیریل ہے ہی نہیں، اسے کپتانی آتی ہی نہیں ہے
فتح کے بعد: باؤلرز نے جتوا دیا ورنہ ۔۔۔۔
اب چار مسلسل میچز جیت گئے، فائنل میں ہیں لیکن کپتانی کے بارے میں کوئی بات نہیں ہو رہی- فائنل جیتیں یا ہاریں لیکن ایسی پوزیشن سے فائنل میں پہنچنا کوئی عام بات نہیں- اس کے لیے اچھے کھیل کے ساتھ آپ کا ٹف ہونا بہت ضروری ہے لیکن ہم لوگوں کے خیال میں تو ہماری ٹیم ذہنی طور پر فارغ ہے-
یہ ٹھیک ہے کہ بابر اعظم ایک عظیم کپتان نہیں ہے، شاید کبھی بن بھی نہ پائے لیکن ایک تو کہا جاتا ہے کہ ایک کپتان اتنا ہی اچھا ہوتا ہے جتنی اس کی ٹیم اور دوسری بات یہ کہ اگر شکست کا سارا ملبہ کوچز اور کپتان پر ڈالا جا سکتا ہے تو فتح کا سارا کریڈٹ صرف باؤلرز یا قسمت کو ہی کیوں؟
اب کیا اچھا کپتان وہ ہو گا جو تماشائیوں کی مرضی کے فیصلے کرے گا؟ کہ آج نواز کو صرف ایک اوور کیوں دیا؟ یا آج افتخار سے باؤلنگ کیوں نہیں کروائی یا کیوں کروائی؟ تین وکٹیں گرنے کے بعد سپنرز کون لگاتا ہے؟ شان مسعود کو کیوں بھیجا، بنتا تو شاداب تھا؟
لیکن میرے خیال میں اگر ایسا کپتان بننا ہے تو پھر ہر اوور کے بعد ووٹنگ کروانا پڑے گی-
چھ اوورز ہو گئے، مخالف ٹیم کا سکور 43/2 ہے، اب کس کو اوور دیا جائے، آپ کی آپشنز ہیں
1) نواز
2) شاداب
3) وسیم
4) نسیم
پوائنٹ یہ ہے کہ فائنل میں پہنچ گئے، چلو تھوڑا بہت کریڈٹ ہی کپتان کو دے دو- پر نہیں، ہم انتظار کریں گے اگلی شکست کا، جس کے بعد ایک بار سارے تیر چلائے جائیں گے-


==========


After every defeat: Babar Azam is not captain material, he does not deserve captaincy
After the victory: The bowlers won us the game, otherwise……

Now four matches won in a row, in the finals but nobody is talking about captaincy!
Win or lose the finals but it's not common to reach the finals from such a position - you have to be tough with a good game.
Yes, but we think that our team is mentally weak.

It is true that Babar Azam is not a great captain, maybe he will never be, but it is said that a captain is only as good as his team and secondly, if the defeat is all blamed on the coaches and captains
Then why give all the credit for the victory to the bowlers or luck only?

Now will a good captain be the one who will make the decisions of the spectators?
Why gave only one over to Nawaz today? Or why didn't you bowl with Iftikhar today or why did you do it?
Who puts spinners after three wickets fall? Why sent Shan Masoud, Banta was young?

But in my opinion, if such a captain is to be made, then voting will have to be done after every over. Six overs done, opposition score 43/2, now who to bowl, your options
1) Nawaz
2) Fresh
3) Wasim
4) The breeze

The point is, having reached the final, let's give the captain a little more credit - but no, we'll wait for the next defeat, after which all arrows will be fired at Babar!

Forwarded as received….
 
Not delving in the whole political or interference debate, but IK was born for cricket and his cricketing decisions would still have more chance to come off than anyone else's in the country. He doesn't follow cricket like he said but he can definitely recognize class when he sees it.

Would have loved to have had him involved in cricket more since 1992.
 
Have you forgotten that he is the sole ODI world cup winning captain of Pakistan? He Probably has the best cricketing eye then anyone else in Pakistan. Him becoming pm does not mean that people should that he is also a former cricketer and captain.

WInning a world cup doesnt mean you make the best decision.

Babar is not fit to be captain, and no PM is allowed to change captains. Does not matter if he was a cricketer or not. Only chairman have authority
 
It doesn't matter if Australia had Don Bradman as Prime Minister, he wouldn't have any right to intervene in Australian cricketing matters.

Imran was perfectly entitled as PCB Patron to appoint a Chairman and set a general direction for the Board - but however well meaning his intentions were it's not in his remit to give captaincy recommendations to PCB. Again the comments defending this shows the Pakistani cultural mindset and why we never build any sustainable institutions. We are too enthralled by individual personalities.

Now you may think I'm being hypocritical because I'm a massive advocate for Imran's 2019 domestic cricket reforms - but at least there's an argument to say departments, some of them publicly owned enterprises, did fall under Pakistan Government's remit. So that's a different matter and can't be compared.

These comments suggest Imran likely too had a role in appointing Misbah as coach in 2019 after the Cricket Committee assured Mickey's position.
 
As the great Fawad Rana sab once said:

“Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan”

Imran Khan told Piers Morgan that he had the vision to appoint Babar as captain after seeing him play only twice. This was right after Babar scored that 50 in the Sydney semi final.

I wonder if Imran would like to remind Piers again about his great vision.
 
As the great Fawad Rana sab once said:

“Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan”

Imran Khan told Piers Morgan that he had the vision to appoint Babar as captain after seeing him play only twice. This was right after Babar scored that 50 in the Sydney semi final.

I wonder if Imran would like to remind Piers again about his great vision.

Good quote by Fawad Rana(who is he?). :bow:

Any captain, coach, selector or chairman would have resigned from their posts after losing two series to SENA teams if they had some 'self respect'. :inti
 
As the great Fawad Rana sab once said:

“Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan”

Imran Khan told Piers Morgan that he had the vision to appoint Babar as captain after seeing him play only twice. This was right after Babar scored that 50 in the Sydney semi final.

I wonder if Imran would like to remind Piers again about his great vision.

He made the decision based on what he saw then.

PCB had the option to remove him since April.
 
Imran doesn’t know anything about modern cricket. I remember back in 2015, when he said that Younis Khan should have opened for Pakistan at the 2015 World Cup, because he did well against Sri Lanka in the test series. :)))

Imran should refrain from giving opinions on cricket and should simply stick to running away from long marches and leaving his supporters hanging in Islamabad.
 
Let's of people are saying Babar should go but not a single one cam name anyone to take his place. So once again I will through it out there- name someone
 
Good quote by Fawad Rana(who is he?). :bow:

Any captain, coach, selector or chairman would have resigned from their posts after losing two series to SENA teams if they had some 'self respect'. :inti
Did not Fawad Rana had so many failures with LQ . Agree Babar should resign and the managent fired.
 
Let's of people are saying Babar should go but not a single one cam name anyone to take his place. So once again I will through it out there- name someone

I had this belief but I think events have superseded this concern.
This was exactly the comment that was made continually in support of Root retaining the captaincy. It’s hard to imagine now, given stokes’s success, that it was felt there was no alternative.

Sometimes the “race is run” and that is the case of Babar’s captaincy.
The key issue is to retain him as a batsman, as he is head and shoulders above anyone else in the side.

The key will be to choose someone who is worth his place in the side.
Pakistan will continue to lose against good sides — this would bring huge pressure on a captain not worth their place in the side as a player.
 
He made the decision based on what he saw then.

PCB had the option to remove him since April.
But Imran came out with this only when Pakistan reached the final and he wanted to lap up the adulation as if it was his great vision that foresaw Pakistan’s success under Babar. He took a big opportunity to promote himself through Piers who has a global following.

A lot of Imran’s supporters lapped this up too at the time. Will Imran take ownership of this 0-3 humiliation that Pakistan has now suffered? Does he want to stake ownership of his ‘brilliant foresight’ now?
 
I had this belief but I think events have superseded this concern.
This was exactly the comment that was made continually in support of Root retaining the captaincy. It’s hard to imagine now, given stokes’s success, that it was felt there was no alternative.

Sometimes the “race is run” and that is the case of Babar’s captaincy.
The key issue is to retain him as a batsman, as he is head and shoulders above anyone else in the side.

The key will be to choose someone who is worth his place in the side.
Pakistan will continue to lose against good sides — this would bring huge pressure on a captain not worth their place in the side as a player.

So give us a name. No doubt Babar is limited but the other guys are not guaranteed to play. Stokes was guaranteed to play for England, who bar Babar is guaranteed a place in the team?
 
Imran is just a casual follower of cricket nowadays. He doesn’t really have any interest, but he probably has his personal checklist when asked his opinion

I can imagine a conversation like this

Imran: How is our team?

Random PCB guy: We have one world class player

Imran: Just one?

PCB: yes, but people are saying he is the “best player in the world across formats” (we all know what cheerleaders these guys are)

Imran: ok, well if he’s the only world class player and he’s that good, his performances should be able to inspire the team, you must make him captain.


That was probably it.

He doesn’t know how dumb babar is. He doesn’t know how gormless he is. He doesn’t know how defensive he is. He doesn’t know he chases after personal milestones.
 
And after every defeat Babar the Great will say that we will learn from our mistakes (I'm sure he doesn't even know what were the mistakes) we fought well, there were positives in this defeat.
All repeated statements learned by heart through desi rote learning.
 
I don't know if you all agree with me but for me the ideal captain in all formats is Shan Masood.
Firstly, over the years he has massively improved his game and secondly from what I have see from his interviews he has a good cricketing brain. Plus, his educational background will help him in analyzing the game and in handling the players and the media.
 
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And after every defeat Babar the Great will say that we will learn from our mistakes (I'm sure he doesn't even know what were the mistakes) we fought well, there were positives in this defeat.
All repeated statements learned by heart through desi rote learning.

To be fair that what all losing captains say when they lose.
It is almost an identical version of what Root said after the West Indoes debacle — he was no longer captain soon after
 
Very bad series. But he still looks to be very confident as a captain. His own performance with the bat was not too bad. The swag with which he got those cute 50s is worth appreciating. :inti
 
I don't mind he stays captain forever but under him we are not showing any improvements especially in Tests. The fact is that he is not captaincy material. He is not a thinking captain and isn't brave enough to make bold and daring desicions. On the field he just performs the script which the coach gives him. He doesn't have his own strategy.
 
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Blunder by IK… Babar wasn’t his choice,
Name used for political advantage.
 
Blunder by IK… Babar wasn’t his choice,
Name used for political advantage.

There is no doubt that after his retirement Imran has been involved indirectly in Pakistani Cricket. Misbah had a long tenure as a captain only because Imran wanted him at the job no matter what the people or media said against the captain. This is well documented in Shahrayar Khan's book 'Cricket Cauldron'. Afridi was picked for the 1999 India Tests because Imran wanted him to play and open despite Miandad reluctance to play him. It was Imran who advised the coach and captain to let Younis Khan open in the early part of the 2015 WC. Also he always used to advice the captain to play M.Sami. Plus in every major tournaments he advises to play 4 fast bowlers and just attack and forget about line and length etc etc.
 
As most people have short memories and them when the agenda suits they play the card. Babar was the obvious choice at the time and I dare anyone here with any cricketing credibility to tell us others that were in.the running. Like most things in life, some decisions pay off and some don't. Babar was the right choice at the time and we got into SF and a final. The results against England have been awful and he may have to pay the price.
 
I don't think the captaincy would make much difference. We don't really have too many senior players to choose from. Who else in the team is captaincy material?.
 
As most people have short memories and them when the agenda suits they play the card. Babar was the obvious choice at the time and I dare anyone here with any cricketing credibility to tell us others that were in.the running. Like most things in life, some decisions pay off and some don't. Babar was the right choice at the time and we got into SF and a final. The results against England have been awful and he may have to pay the price.

I agree.

Babar's appointment was greeted with a lot of enthusiasm, especially given that Azhar Ali's captaincy was not considered that great also at that point.
 
I agree.

Babar's appointment was greeted with a lot of enthusiasm, especially given that Azhar Ali's captaincy was not considered that great also at that point.

Many of these guys seem to be dishonest with their selective memories. Babar was the best choice as AA was appalling at Old Trafford.His results have been mixed with a good win over the saffers and poor results against Eng and Aus. Its easy to point out the problem but having a solution is much more difficult. Hardly anyone can name a guy to take over, and the names mentioned aren't even regulars in the team. Babar needs a mentor for his Captaincy- someone like Mark Taylor or Nasser for their mindset and thoughts. Tactically Our Captains have been limited for decades with the favoured tactic of spread the field and hope for the best.
 
time to bump this thread for everyone to be reminded who made him the captain in the first place.
 
time to bump this thread for everyone to be reminded who made him the captain in the first place.
So let's assume Babar wasnt appointed. Who would have been the candidates at this stage. Well there is........ and there is also.......... and not forgetting.......

Give it a rest.
 
So let's assume Babar wasnt appointed. Who would have been the candidates at this stage. Well there is........ and there is also.......... and not forgetting.......

Give it a rest.
for you its about defending PTI and Imran so wont botehr having this discussion with you.

Pakistan always had options
 
I have full-on video evidence where Misbah Ul Haq admitted on video that he changed the captain to Babar Azam after conversations with then-CEO Wasim Khan in 2019.
 
for you its about defending PTI and Imran so wont botehr having this discussion with you.

Pakistan always had options
Like who? Let's here these amazing options because it's easy to be wise of something goes wrong. Just imagine they went with anyone but Babar and they struggled like he has. What would be the call from everyone? Yes you guessed it. Your just angry because Billawal wasn't offered the job
 
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on what biases did imran think he is suitable for captaincy...if im not wrong this guy said once that he doesn't even watch cricket no more.
 
Misbah who is close to Nawaz Shereef Was in the decision of removing him. So his son can come into the international side
 
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