Babar Azam Becomes First Pakistan Captain to Lose to Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe

Babar Azam, the recently reappointed white-ball captain of Pakistan, finds himself under fire after a string of losses under his leadership. The latest blow came in the form of a five-wicket defeat to Ireland in the first T20I of the three-match series.

Babar Azam’s time as captain has witnessed some historical low points for Pakistan cricket. He holds the unwanted record of being the first Pakistan captain to lose to Zimbabwe in a T20 match, Afghanistan in a World Cup match, and an ODI match, and now Ireland in a T20I.

Adding to the concerns is Azam’s batting approach. His tendency towards slow starts has been criticized previously, and the first T20I against Ireland was no different. While he scored a half-century (57 runs), it came off 43 balls, failing to provide the kind of impetus the team needed at the top of the order.

This sluggish batting style has come under scrutiny as it often leaves the middle order with a lot of catching up to do. Critics argue that a more aggressive approach from the skipper is crucial to set a strong foundation for the Pakistan batting lineup.

With the series against Ireland on the line, Babar Azam will need to find a way to address both his captaincy record and his batting approach. The upcoming matches will be a crucial test for the newly appointed captain, who needs to deliver convincing victories to silence his critics.