Former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis has argued that giving Babar Azam the captaincy risks diminishing him as a batter. He made the remarks at a charity fundraising event in Manchester on September 21, shortly after Pakistan lost a Test series 3-0 in England.
Waqar’s view
Waqar said he has no doubts about Babar’s technique, describing him as a complete and elegant player. His concern is temperament under responsibility: in his view Babar takes too much upon himself once he is made captain, and his form tends to dip as a result.
A captain, Waqar added, has to back his team-mates while keeping faith in his own game. He suggested Pakistan are effectively losing a player by handing Babar a job he finds hard to handle.
Background to the England tour
Babar returned as Test captain in July 2026, replacing Shan Masood, with the Pakistan Cricket Board confirming the change before the series against the West Indies and England. It is his second spell in charge after leading the side from 2020 to 2023.
The England trip did not go to plan. Babar missed the first Test with a hand injury and then captained the remaining matches. England wrapped up the sweep with an eight-wicket win at Edgbaston on September 12.
Further upheaval followed. Ahead of the third Test the PCB made major squad and coaching changes, and Babar said publicly that nobody had consulted him before several players were sent home.
With the series lost, attention has turned to how Pakistan structure their leadership and how best to use Babar, who remains one of their key batters. Waqar’s comments add another voice to that debate.
