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'Babar Azam Will Return...': Basit Ali Predicts Ex Captain's Comeback Date For Pakistan

Babar Azam was left out of Pakistan squad due to poor form [Source: @johns/X.com]Babar Azam was left out of Pakistan squad due to poor form [Source: @johns/X.com]

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has thrown his weight behind Babar Azam, backing the star batter to return to Pakistan's squad after being dropped for the second and third home Tests against England. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shook things up, reconstituting its selection committee shortly after Pakistan’s heavy defeat by an innings and 47 runs in the first Test.

Basit Ali Confident of Former Skipper’s Return to Pakistan Setup

The decision to drop Babar, along with former captain Sarfraz Ahmed and fast-bowling sensations Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, caught many off guard. Fans and cricket experts alike were left scratching their heads, with opinions split over the controversial move.

But while some believed the decision was a long time coming due to Babar’s struggles—he hasn’t scored a fifty in his last 18 Test innings—others, like Basit Ali, feel it’s only a temporary setback for the former skipper.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit Ali stated that Babar still has a place in the team and predicted his return once the two-Test series wraps up.

“He still has a place in the team. He will return to the team after two Test matches,” Basit said confidently.

The pressure on Babar has only increased with Kamran Ghulam, his replacement, making an immediate impact with a century on his Test debut. However, Basit believes that Babar's return is imminent, with the PCB likely keeping a close watch on how the series unfolds.

Who Will Be Pakistan’s Next White-Ball Captain?

Babar’s exclusion isn’t the only storm brewing within the Pakistan cricket setup. His successor for the white-ball captaincy remains undecided, with a couple of names floating around as potential candidates.

As the rumour mill churns, the PCB faces the challenge of finding a leader who can restore Pakistan’s glory in limited-overs cricket. Basit Ali weighed in on the captaincy debate as well, narrowing the potential candidates down to two names:

“Mohammad Rizwan or Salman Agha will be the next white-ball captain,”  he predicted.

Babar Azam’s Tenure as Pakistan captain

Babar's captaincy, which began in 2019, saw early success with Pakistan reaching the T20 World Cup semi-finals and finals in 2021 and 2022.

However, recent poor performances, including early exits from the Asia Cup and ODI World Cup 2023, led him to step down. After a brief reinstatement, Babar's second captaincy stint ended following Pakistan’s failure to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup semis.