What flaw holds Rizwan Back?

The phrase, “Captains are born, not made,” emphasizes that while some players excel as leaders, others struggle under pressure and lose their natural playing style.

Pakistan’s cricket captaincy often resembles a musical chairs game, particularly during losing streaks. Recently, the team has faced numerous failures across all formats of cricket.

The World Cup in the U.S. was a significant test for Babar Azam, who failed, resulting in the team’s early elimination by an inexperienced opponent.

Prior to this, Babar’s performance had been inconsistent. Consequently, Zaka Ashraf appointed Shaheen Afridi, but Mohsin Naqvi quickly reinstated Babar after only one series.

The call for change in leadership has resurfaced, yet with no imminent white-ball matches, the PCB avoided making immediate decisions regarding captaincy.

Babar Azam is an exceptional batsman but has not demonstrated effective leadership as a captain, failing to secure trophies in several major ICC events.

Despite these failures, the PCB continues to place faith in Babar, possibly retaining him as captain until the Champions Trophy due to coach Gary Kirsten’s insistence.

Shan Masood was appointed Test captain last year, but after losing all three Tests in Australia, he has faced significant criticism for the team’s performance.

Even ignoring his captaincy, Shan’s batting form raises questions about his place in the team. Captains must lead by example to inspire their teammates.

While Shan possesses cricketing knowledge and is well-educated, internal dynamics within the Pakistan team complicate his ability to manage and motivate players effectively.

Cricket is fundamentally a skills-based game, and while language proficiency is not crucial, having English-speaking players can facilitate better communication with foreign coaches.

Shan likely benefits from Jason Gillespie’s support, raising questions about why coaches wield such influence when the PCB chairman is supposed to appoint captains.

The upcoming series against England poses a significant challenge, especially following previous defeats to Bangladesh. Expectations are low given past performance against England.

Many advocate for a single captain across all formats, but finding players who excel in both red and white-ball cricket remains a challenge.

Mohammad Rizwan’s impressive performance positions him as a strong candidate for captaincy, yet he receives little consideration, despite leading Multan Sultanz to a PSL title.