Babar Azam won’t play in Pakistan’s first Test versus Bangladesh. This match begins Friday at Dhaka’s Shere Bangla National Stadium. A knock on his left knee keeps him off the field for now. Doctors within the team setup are looking closely at how it’s healing. News about his status will come later, confirmed the Pakistan Cricket Board just before kickoff
Babar Azam made clear on a recent Saturday that returning as Pakistan’s captain isn’t off the table – what guides his choices is how it affects the team. His focus stays fixed where it always has: the side’s needs come first.
Babar once again captained Pakistan during the 2024 T20 World Cup held across the Caribbean islands.
“The issue of captaincy is another thing. Right now, I am just focusing on the Pakistan Super League final. But if in the future such a situation arises, I will always do what is in the best interests of Pakistan cricket,” Babar said at a media conference.
Babar lately found his groove during PSL 11, steering Peshawar Zalmi deep into contention – right up to the final. His bat did heavy lifting, delivering big scores, among them a brace of centuries that turned heads.
After captaining across formats from 2020 to 2023, Babar stepped aside post the ODI World Cup. Yet he reappeared as T20 skipper ahead of the 2024 tournament. Pakistan didn’t advance past the group phase there. That exit paved the way for his dismissal as leader.
Bursts of praise never mattered much when staying focused on simple play kept him calm. Enjoyment came through clean swings rather than outside noise.
“Whether I do well or not, the criticism is there, so there is nothing I can do about it. But I get a lot of confidence from my fans and supporters, and I am really excited about doing well in the final on Sunday,” he added.
Out of nowhere, fresh faces popped up during the PSL, Babar noted. These players need careful development – timing matters just as much as skill. A steady hand could shape what comes next.
When questioned about possibly playing against Marnus Labuschagne’s Hyderabad Kingsmen in the PSL final, Babar responded: “Each team follows its own path, after all, their performance got them this far.” .
“But we have been playing consistently well, and hopefully we can do all the things right that we have done so far.”
