Now that the warm-up games have concluded and we get into the main One Day International World Cup 2023 in India, it is the part of the tournament where the fates of many players and team captains are decided.
The reason I say this is because only one team can ultimately lift the World Cup, while the remainder of the global player fraternity is subject to discussion and change, especially team captains.
Coming back to India and the tournament on hand, and the subject of avoiding fate-related conversations - Pakistan's performance in the recently concluded practice matches has been a mixed bag. There were some promising aspects along with some concerning ones.
Let us take a closer look at the side everyone in Pakistan is most concerned about: the team in Green.
While teams are a sum of all their parts -- or players, a pivotal factor in a team's success or failure lies in its leadership.
In this respect, 'captain' should be more than just a label on another player; they should be a skipper.
There exists a fine, yet significant, line between being a captain and a skipper.
A skipper must command respect, not only from fellow teammates but also from opponents. They must maintain control - not just of themselves but the team as well; they display selflessness and utilise the resources available -- team or otherwise -- to the fullest.
The captain should possess wisdom aplenty.
A skipper's inherent quality is to have the courage to make tough decisions, even if they may be unpopular but are in the larger interests of the team.
For instance, if Pakistan's skipper is courageous and discerning, he would recognise that Shadab Khan may not be suited for 50-overs cricket.
While he excels in the T20 format, he struggles to bowl the full ten overs and pick up a couple of wickets in one-day internationals.
I am ready to accept that a bowler can give away 60 runs or even 65 on these batter-friendly wickets in India. Still, he should be able to pick up at least two wickets to justify the runs he has cost the team.
This is where Babar can truly become a skipper who makes decisions solely on merit and has character enough to correct a miscalculation
A top-tier all-rounder should contribute consistently in all areas. In Shadab's case, that is with the bat and the ball. But in both departments, Shadab has not been delivering of late. This begs the question - can Babar Azam be bold enough to drop his vice-captain?
It is okay if Babar included him in the squad, but two wrongs do not make a right. This is where Babar can truly become a skipper who makes decisions solely on merit and has character enough to correct a miscalculation.
Another crucial aspect of being the captain is putting the team's needs ahead of personal desires, promoting other players over oneself, and showing selflessness. Unfortunately, this is one area where Babar Azam falls short.
He exudes an aura quite different from that of a captain or a leader of men.
On the finer aspects of being a captain, dealing with strategy, planning, and team selection, Babar's performances are not outstanding either.
One has to ask why players like Imad Wasim, Abrar Ahmed, and even Shahnawaz Dahani were overlooked for the 15-man squad ahead of the likes of Shadab Khan, Hassan Ali, Fakhar Zaman, and Mohammad Nawaz who, based on their current form, may not be as deserving of a spot on a team competing for the biggest trophy in the sport.
A lot of what a captain does happens on the pitch with in-match tactics such as field placements, timing of bowling changes, and selecting the playing eleven. Babar's decision-making here has demonstrated a lack of innovation. It is like having a croissant without coffee - très banal.
It seems unlikely that Babar Azam will implement any of these changes, thus making him an unsuitable choice to lead the side in the World Cup, in my opinion
Babar's performance as a batsman is the one area where he has been impressive. His batting prowess is where he stands head and shoulders above his compatriots and his peers in other teams.
However, here too, there's room for improvement. Should he learn to improvise more, it would make him even more dangerous.
But as a captain, Babar Azam should acknowledge that Saud Shakeel is the most impressive batter in Pakistan. As captain, Babar has a responsibility to place Shakeel in the most pivotal position, which is number four - second down.
This change would mean Mohammad Rizwan opens the innings with Imam-ul-Haq, creating an opportunity for a strong middle order to showcase their talents.
Saud at four, Iftikhar at five, and Salman at six could make for a dangerous middle order from the opposition's perspective.
However, it seems unlikely that Babar Azam will implement any of these changes, thus making him an unsuitable choice to lead the side in the World Cup, in my opinion.
He lacks those larger-than-life qualities that one seeks in great skippers, such as courage, out-of-the-box thinking and selflessness.
It seems personal relationships and preferences may hold more sway for him.
As a fan of the Pakistan team, I wish Babar Azam and his men the best of luck in the upcoming 45 days. I hope Babar can rise to the occasion, prove me wrong, and lead Pakistan to victory in India.