Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has expressed reservations over the decision to reappoint Babar Azam as the national Test captain, suggesting the star batter would have been better off focusing solely on his game.
Babar recently returned to the leadership role after replacing Shan Masood, whose tenure as Test captain yielded just four victories in 16 matches, with Pakistan suffering 12 defeats during that period.
The move marked Babar’s return as Pakistan’s Test skipper after previously leading the side in the format between 2020 and 2023.
Speaking during an interview with Wisden, Amir was asked for his thoughts on the decision and admitted he was not convinced it was the right move for Pakistan’s premier batter.
The left-arm pacer pointed out that Babar had only recently begun rediscovering his form after a prolonged lean spell and warned that the added responsibility of captaincy could place unnecessary pressure on him.
According to Amir, Babar’s resurgence with the bat should have been protected rather than complicated by leadership duties.
“He just started performing well now after a long, long time. After two and a half years, you can say he’s looking in good touch,” Mohammad Amir said.
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The former Pakistan pacer also highlighted the intense scrutiny faced by captains in Pakistan cricket, arguing that leadership comes with constant pressure from the media and public.
“And suddenly you’re putting him under pressure, like in Pakistan, you know, from media, our culture is very tough. You’re always on your toes. You have to be answerable for every single thing. So now he’s captain,” he added.
Amir, who represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 ODIs and 62 T20 Internationals during his career, believes Babar’s value to the team lies primarily in his batting and that allowing him to play with a clear mind would have been a better option.
“I think, for me, a personal opinion, he should have been playing like a player, free of mind, less pressure because he’s the only one we can trust as a player. He’s the best player in Pakistan right now,” Amir stated.
The 34-year-old concluded by reiterating his disagreement with the decision, saying he does not view Babar’s return as captain as the ideal solution for Pakistan’s Test side.
“But I think as a captain, that’s not a good decision,” he said.