Pakistan’s failure to secure a trophy under Babar Azam’s captaincy came under scrutiny once more as the team’s skipper addressed a press conference prior to their departure for Dublin from the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.
The national team is en route to the Irish capital to participate in three Twenty20 Internationals against the hosts from May 10-14, followed by four matches in England from May 22-30. They will then head to Dallas for the T20 World Cup, scheduled for June in the United States and the Caribbean.
Pakistan narrowly missed out on the T20 World Cup trophy in 2022, losing to England in the final. This marks another instance where the team has failed to clinch a major title under Babar’s leadership, having previously been defeated in the semi-finals of the tournament and the T20 Asia Cup by Sri Lanka.
Babar expressed a desire to move past these disappointments, stating, “Past is past. Though our aim and focus in the past was to bring the trophy home, unfortunately, we could not finish well. But we have double the confidence and belief that we will do it this time.”
In the last six months, Babar briefly stepped down as Pakistan’s captain after the 50-over World Cup, with Shaheen Shah Afridi taking over for the T20 side. However, Babar was reinstated as the white-ball skipper by the country’s cricket board.
The team’s selection committee, appointed by the PCB, has made several changes to the squad, including the inclusion of Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, who had previously announced their international retirements. Additionally, Gary Kirsten has been appointed as the head coach, with Azhar Mahmood serving as his deputy.
Despite these changes, the team faces challenges, including the need to address middle-order problems and finalize the 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup. However, Babar remains optimistic about their prospects, especially after observing Haris Rauf’s performance during the preparatory camp.
The team departed for Dublin early Tuesday morning, although Amir did not travel with the team due to visa processing issues. Additionally, Pakistan’s jersey for the T20 World Cup was launched in a ceremony attended by Babar, Shaheen, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Rizwan. PCB chief Mohsin expressed hope that Pakistan would win the trophy after 15 years, noting that the team was in good shape and the players were hopeful for success.
