Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam has expressed confidence that he will continue in the role despite the team suffering a 3-0 series whitewash against England, while calling for an honest assessment of their shortcomings.
Pakistan entered the series after a 1-1 draw against the West Indies but struggled throughout the England tour. They suffered a heavy innings-and-103-run defeat in Leeds before losing again at Lord’s.
The second defeat triggered a major mid-series overhaul, with seven players replaced along with head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul.
Babar calls for honest assessment
Pakistan showed greater resistance in the third Test at Edgbaston, but England eventually secured an eight-wicket victory to complete their first-ever home Test series whitewash against Pakistan.
Babar, who missed the opening Test because of injury, said the team must acknowledge its mistakes and identify the strongest possible combination for future series.
“We need to sit down and admit our mistakes, and then work out our best XI,” Babar said during the post-match presentation.
Asked whether he expected to remain Pakistan’s Test captain, Babar replied in the affirmative.
He also acknowledged that team selection would have to take conditions into account, particularly when playing different opponents in different countries.
“In different series you need players for the conditions, but the new boys have done well,” he said.
Babar backs young players
Despite the disappointing series result, Babar praised the younger players who were given opportunities during the tour.
Pakistan made an encouraging start to England’s chase in the final Test when Mohammad Abbas took two wickets in the opening over. However, England recovered to complete the victory.
Babar said the early wickets had boosted Pakistan’s confidence but credited England’s batters for responding strongly.
“Belief was high with two wickets in the first over, but they played very well,” he said.
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The captain also rejected the suggestion that Pakistan had made a mistake by not selecting a specialist spinner, explaining that the conditions in England had favoured fast bowlers.
“Don’t think so,” Babar said when asked whether Pakistan had missed a spinner. “The conditions have been grassy and that’s why we played with three fast bowlers.”
Razaullah earns Babar’s praise
Babar singled out 21-year-old debutant Razaullah for special praise after an impressive first Test.
The youngster scored 92 runs across his two innings and also claimed four wickets, making a strong impact with both bat and ball.
Babar admitted he had not known much about Razaullah before the tour but said he learned more about his batting after the youngster was brought into the team as an opener.
“Not too much, to be honest. I learned about his batting, as he came in as an opener [for Peshawar],” Babar said.
He described Razaullah as a “very good talent” and suggested that Pakistan’s changes before the England tour were aimed at finding the right combination for demanding English conditions.
“Coming to England, it is difficult for the batters and fast-bowling group,” Babar said.
With the England series now over, Pakistan will face pressure to address their weaknesses, establish a settled Test combination and build greater consistency ahead of their next red-ball assignments.
