Salman Butt on Babar Azam: Great Batter, But Not a Great Captain

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has once again stirred up debate on social media by sharing his views on Babar Azam’s time as skipper. His comments have opened up old discussions about whether Babar was truly the right man to lead Pakistan, despite being one of the best batters in the world.

Salman Butt acknowledged that Babar Azam is among the finest players in modern cricket, admired globally for his batting skills and consistency. However, he was clear that Babar’s captaincy never matched the same level. According to him, being a world-class player does not automatically make someone a natural leader.

Speaking in a recent podcast with CrickWick, Butt explained that Babar lacked certain qualities that are essential for a strong captain. In his view, Babar struggled with tactical decision-making and did not show a commanding presence on the field, especially in high-pressure situations where leadership matters most.

To support his point, Salman Butt recalled Pakistan’s shocking defeat to the USA in the last T20 World Cup. He highlighted the confusion over the Super Over decision. “Babar was once asked about giving the Super Over to Mohammad Amir. His reply was that it was a collective decision taken along with the coach. That’s not what a true captain says. A captain should own the decision, whether right or wrong. By saying it was a shared choice, Babar showed weakness,” Butt explained.

He went further, saying, “We should have protected Babar as a top-class player and let someone else handle the responsibility of captaincy. His personality doesn’t fit the role of a leader. Just because you are a great batter doesn’t mean you are fit to be captain.”

This is not the first time Babar Azam’s leadership has come under fire. During his captaincy, he led Pakistan in 148 matches across formats and had a win percentage of 56.7%. While those numbers may look respectable, the team failed to secure any major trophies under his watch. His personal performances with the bat remained strong, but the lack of team achievements eventually forced him to step down from the role.

Salman Butt’s remarks have once again shifted attention toward Babar’s legacy—not only as a world-class batsman but also as a former captain whose leadership will continue to be debated for years to come.

Although Babar is now free from the heavy responsibility of captaincy and can fully focus on his batting, the shadow of these conversations will likely follow him throughout his career. For many, he will always be remembered as one of Pakistan’s greatest batters, but questions about his leadership will never completely fade away.

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