‘I’ll be very disappointed’ – Babar Azam urged to resign as Test captain after England series

Pakistan is engaged in a three-match Test series in England that runs from August 19 to September 13, 2026. Babar Azam was reappointed as Test captain on July 5, 2026, replacing Shan Masood, who had led Pakistan to 12 defeats in 16 Tests before being replaced.

Babar Azam was ruled out of the first Test against England after sustaining an injury during a warm-up match in Beckenham on August 18, 2026. Salman Agha was named captain for the first Test in Leeds, though Babar remained the squad captain. The PCB has undertaken significant restructuring of the team’s composition, with several squad members affected by the organisational changes.

Tanveer Ahmed’s call for Babar’s resignation

Former Pakistan cricketer Tanveer Ahmed has publicly urged Babar Azam to step down from the captaincy role. Ahmed’s remarks come at a time when the PCB is implementing substantial changes to the squad structure, raising questions about leadership accountability during a period of transition.

“If Babar Azam doesn’t resign from captaincy, then I’ll be very disappointed. You should resign from captaincy,” Ahmed said on PTV Sports.

“You should say ‘I can’t play cricket like this, nor can I be a captain. If I had taken captaincy, it wasn’t because I brought six boys and took them out’,” Ahmed added.

Ahmed further elaborated on the broader implications of Babar’s decision to remain captain during the restructuring period.

Ahmed’s perspective on leadership and accountability

According to Ahmed, Babar’s continued leadership while other players face removal from the squad sends a particular message to the cricket community.

“And if you (Babar) think that it’s okay, ‘changes are happening, I will continue to be a captain’. So, if people think that you are doing this because you want to be a captain, then you are giving people a chance,” Ahmed continued.

Ahmed emphasised the importance of decisive leadership and personal accountability in building credibility within the sport. He argued that a captain’s willingness to make difficult decisions and take responsibility directly influences how the public perceives their integrity.

“The value of a person is built there. A person who takes decisions is powerful. And the person who takes decisions, he has respect in front of the people,” Ahmed concluded.

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