Pakistan’s limited-overs head coach Gary Kirsten and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood’s report to the PCB following the 2024 T20 World Cup played a significant role in Babar Azam’s decision to step down as captain, according to “insiders.”
Kirsten, a former South African opener, reportedly issued a critical report after Pakistan’s losses to the USA and India, which led to an early exit from the tournament. This marked the second consecutive ICC event, following the ODI World Cup, where Pakistan failed to reach the knockout stages under Babar’s leadership.
After the T20 World Cup, Kirsten submitted a report outlining Babar’s limitations as captain and the team’s struggles with cohesion.
An insider revealed, “Babar was not happy with the observations and recommendations of Kirsten and even assistant coach Azhar Mahmood, and felt he was solely being blamed for the disappointing performances.”
Following the leak of parts of the report, Babar informed the PCB that he was considering stepping down as captain. Another source said, “He had indicated to the cricket board after some parts of Kirsten’s report became public that he was not interested in remaining captain.”
Babar reportedly expressed frustration to PCB officials over what he saw as a lack of trust in his leadership and past accomplishments. The final straw, insiders suggest, was when the PCB did not name him as ODI captain, only confirming his role as T20 captain.
In his report, Kirsten also examined the team’s dressing room dynamics and raised concerns about the behavior and lack of cooperation from some players.
He questioned whether Babar was fully prepared for the pressures of captaincy, especially considering the mental stress and criticism he faced over the past year.
Currently, the PCB is taking its time to decide on a new white-ball captain. They have asked Kirsten, selector Asad Shafiq, and other committee members to deliberate carefully before making a recommendation.
Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has emphasized transparency in the decision-making process, stating, “Minutes of all official discussions by the selection committee, including both foreign head coaches, should be recorded to provide a clear rationale for the appointment.”