Kamran Akmal Questions Captaincy Change in Pakistan Cricket

News Desk 

Lahore: Former Pakistani cricketer Kamran Akmal has expressed skepticism about the impact of changing the team captain, arguing that systemic issues rather than leadership changes are needed to improve Pakistan’s cricket.

In a recent interview with ‘Geo News’ in Lahore, Akmal questioned whether a new captain could bring in international stars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Mitchell Starc to strengthen the team.

He emphasized that the team’s performance is not solely dependent on the captain but on the overall system and approach.

Akmal criticized the frequent calls for a change in captaincy, particularly when the team faces setbacks. “Why do they always talk about changing the captain when the team performs poorly? Isn’t it about their favorite choice of captain?” he said.

Reflecting on past tournaments such as the Asia Cup, ODI World Cup, and T20 World Cup, Akmal noted that no captain changes were made despite losses. He suggested that Babar Azam should remain captain until the Champions Trophy, arguing that frequent captaincy changes do not address the core issues.

The former wicketkeeper-batter, who has played 53 Test matches for Pakistan, emphasized the need for systemic improvement. “One of my questions is whether the new captain will bring in star players and make a difference. The same players will play in the same system,” he said.

Akmal urged for improvements in the overall system, including the captain, coach, and selectors. He believes that addressing fundamental issues in domestic and club cricket is crucial. “If the foundation is not solid, such blunders will continue, and changing captains will not make a significant difference,” he added.