Former Pakistan bowler Mohammad Asif has revealed the name of the current cricketer who can replace Babar Azam as the next captain of the national team.
The fans, former cricketers, and critics have all had a go at Babar Azam as the star batsman's role in the team is under scrutiny after Pakistan failed to make it to the knockout stage of the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
His captaincy came to an end officially on November 15, as he announced he is stepping down as the figurehead for Pakistan across all formats.
And prior to that, former pacer Mohammad Asif revealed the name of the ideal man who could replace Babar for the captaincy role.
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Who can replace Babar Azam as Pakistan captain?
The former Pakistani pacer named opening batsman, Abdullah Shafique, as the man to replace Babar Azam as Pakistan's next captain, while speaking to ARY NEWS.
Asif lauded Shafique's performances at the World Cup 2023 and also stated that the opening batsman displayed leadership qualities in the tournament by batting responsibly.
How did Babar Azam perform at the ODI World Cup 2023?
Babar Azam had a lacklustre ODI World Cup campaign. His performances were nowhere near to his elite standards. Babar was not even the highest run-getter for his country. He failed to score a single century at the World Cup.
| Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | 100s | High Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 320 | 40.00 | 82.90 | 4 | 0 | 74 |
MORE: Shahid Afridi changes tune on cricket pundits, slams Babar Azam for recent comments
How did Abdullah Shafique perform at the ODI World Cup 2023?
Abdullah Shafique ended the tournament as Pakistan's second-highest run scorer. The opener finished above Babar Azam on tournament rankings, and was a shining spark for his country in an otherwise abysmal campaign.
| Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | 100s | High Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 336 | 42.00 | 93.33 | 3 | 1 | 113 |
What is Mohammad Asif's record for Pakistan?
Mohammad Asif played over 70 games for Pakistan across all formats. The 40-year-old picked over 150 wickets. He spearheaded the bowling attack during his short career for Pakistan.
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Average | Strike Rate | Economy | Best Figures | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 23 | 106 | 24.36 | 48.7 | 2.99 | 6/41 | 7 |
| ODIs | 38 | 46 | 33.13 | 42.1 | 4.71 | 3/28 | 0 |
| T20Is | 11 | 13 | 26.38 | 19.7 | 8.00 | 4/18 | 0 |
MORE: Who are the umpires for India vs New Zealand World Cup semifinal?
Who will win the 2023 World Cup?
India and Australia are now among the favourites for the 2023 World Cup title. The odds were as follows ahead of the first semifinal match, and you can click here to make your bet (selected regions).
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| India | 1.95 |
| Australia | 4.50 |
| South Africa | 5.50 |
| New Zealand | 7.50 |
You can also play Dafabet's CWC 2023 predictor game for the chance to win the latest Apple gadgets and big INR prizes!