Here’s a detailed look at Babar Azam’s captaincy journey

The Pakistan cricket team experienced a significant shift in leadership after their defeat to Sri Lanka in the 2019 home series. Following this loss, Sarfaraz Ahmed was replaced as captain, with Azhar Ali first taking the reins, followed by Babar Azam in 2020.

While Babar Azam has consistently proven himself as one of the world’s top batters across all formats, his captaincy has often been a subject of debate. His individual performances have shone brightly, but under his leadership, Pakistan has faced mixed results.

In the One Day International (ODI) format, Babar led Pakistan through two Asia Cups and the 2023 ICC World Cup. However, despite high hopes, the team fell short of securing a title under his captaincy.

One of Babar’s memorable moments as captain came during the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai, where Pakistan famously defeated India by 10 wickets. However, the team's campaign ended in the semi-finals. In the 2022 T20 World Cup final in Melbourne, Pakistan fell to England by 5 wickets. The most recent disappointment came in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Pakistan was eliminated in the first round during the tournament held in the USA and West Indies.

Babar's captaincy record in Test matches includes leading Pakistan in 20 Tests, with 10 victories to his name. In the ODI format, Babar led the team to 26 wins, while in T20 Internationals, he captained Pakistan in 85 matches, winning 48 and losing 29.

In domestic cricket, Babar captained both Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). However, despite his efforts, neither franchise managed to win the PSL title during his tenure as captain.