Newly appointed Pakistan men’s Test captain Babar Azam has vowed not to compromise on discipline, fitness and performance as he begins his second stint in charge, saying the lessons from his previous tenure have made him a more mature leader.
Babar replaced Shan Masood in the job, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) saying they were not satisfied with the latter’s leadership after 12 losses in 16 Tests under him. Babar previously led the team between 2021 and 2023, winning ten of the 20 matches and losing six. He stepped down from the job after being sacked as the ODI captain following a poor showing at the 2023 World Cup.
“My main focus is on three things: discipline, fitness, and performance. These will matter a lot for me as captain and for the team going forward,” Babar said in an interview with Salman Butt. “Whenever I get the opportunity to lead, I always try to back the players, but I will not compromise on these three things.”
Babar said his earlier spell as captain had helped him grow, both through successes and mistakes, and that he believes he returns to the role with a clearer mindset.
“Whenever you get the opportunity to captain Pakistan, it is always an honour. I have learnt a lot from my previous experience as captain and also from the time I played as a player. With time, you gain maturity and clarity. As captain, you make good decisions and sometimes you feel you could have done better. When you sit down and reflect, you get a clearer picture. I have rebuilt my mindset, brought more clarity into it and taken things positively.”
