"Who was the Einstein who made Babar Azam the captain?" - Shoaib Akhtar blasts Pakistan captain after horrific T20 World Cup campaign

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar is baffled that Babar Azam was given the responsibility to captain the Pakistan team as he feels the star batter has no leadership traits. Babar and his men crashed out of the T20 World Cup group stage with losses to the USA and India.

Babar had stepped down from captaincy across all formats after Pakistan's poor run in the ODI World Cup last year and Shaheen Afridi had been named as the T20I captain. However, new PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi then reinstated Babar Azam as the white-ball captain in March earlier this year.

Speaking on Butt Sports TV, Shoaib Akhtar questioned the authorities who made Babar the captain. He said:

"Who made Babar Azam the captain in the first place? Who was the Einstein by the way? I need to know that guy. Does he qualify for this job? Does he even know a thing or two about captaincy? I've been saying that Babar is not a captain material."

Mohsin Naqvi had recently spoken about a 'major surgery' needed in Pakistan cricket and only time will tell if Babar is sacked from captaincy.

Shoaib Akhtar challenges Babar Azam to become a finisher

Shoaib Akhtar further went on to question Babar Azam's place in the ODI and T20I side as a player alone. He feels Babar will need to bat lower down the order at No. 4 and also learn the art of finishing games for Pakistan to keep his place in the team.

On this, he stated:

"What's going to happen to Babar now? He is now going to come down at number 4. He has to finish the games. He has to win the games, if he doesn't, he won't be able to keep his place in T20I. I am telling you right now. He won't be able to find his place in ODIs if he can't finish. The finisher Babar has to come out again."

Babar scored the most runs for Pakistan at the T20 World Cup in 2024. He scored 120 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 101.66, something which has received severe scrutiny from fans as well as many former cricketers.