Former Pakistan cricketer opposes change in Test captaincy

Former Pakistan Test spinner Iqbal Qasim has voiced his opposition to the idea of changing the Test team captain, stating that not only Shan Masood but the entire team is responsible for the series of defeats. He also commented on Babar Azam’s future in T20I cricket, suggesting that Babar must make his own decision regarding his future in the format.

In a conversation on a program Sports World, Qasim criticized the constant shifting of captaincy, pointing out that a player is appointed as captain only to be removed later. He mentioned the recent calls for changing the Test captain and questioned whether appointing Saud Shakeel in place of Shan Masood would guarantee a turnaround in the team’s fortunes.

Qasim argued, "If Saud Shakeel is handed the captaincy instead of Shan Masood, what assurance do we have that he will lead the team to victories? How many times has he captained a team in his career?" 

He emphasized that the responsibility for the team's repeated losses lies not just with the captain but with the entire team. 

"If the captain is replaced, should we also drop the other players from the team?" Qasim added.

He also mentioned that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had given Shan Masood a chance to captain as an experiment, and over time, Masood had been learning and growing into the role. However, he felt that changing the captain now would not significantly improve the team’s performance. 

"If Saud Shakeel is brought in, he will do the same things Shan did," Qasim stated. 

"In my opinion, a change in captaincy will not have a major impact on the team's performance," he added. 

On the subject of Babar Azam, Qasim praised him as a talented and consistent player but acknowledged that every player goes through phases where their form dips. 

"Babar Azam is a talented player, but there comes a time for every batter when their form gets affected," Qasim said. 

He further added, "At this point, Babar will have to decide whether he wants to continue in T20I cricket. If he is committed to this format, he will need to adapt to its demands. Otherwise, he has the potential to play Test and ODI cricket for many more years."

Iqbal Qasim also stressed the importance of supporting Babar Azam, calling him a national asset. 

"Pakistan has invested in Babar Azam. It is our collective responsibility to encourage him, not to discourage him with criticism," Qasim concluded.