Ricky Ponting, the former ODI World Cup-winning captain, has expressed support for the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to appoint Babar Azam as the captain ahead of the T20 World Cup. Ponting believes that Pakistan appears more settled under Babar's leadership compared to Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Babar, who took over the captaincy just two months before the marquee tournament, replaced Shaheen as the captain of the T20I team. Under Babar's captaincy, Pakistan faced New Zealand and England in the T20I series. In contrast, Shaheen's brief stint as captain saw Pakistan suffer a 1-4 defeat against New Zealand in the 5-match T20I series.
Speaking to the ICC, Ponting emphasised that being a good player does not necessarily equate to being a good captain. He highlighted that while some players excel in leading a team, others struggle to balance the responsibilities of captaincy with their performance.
Ponting explained, "Captaincy just sits well with some people and it doesn't sit well with others. We've seen it through the years that some of the best players that have ever played the game have not necessarily made the best captains."
He elaborated on the challenges of captaincy, noting that it requires individuals to focus not only on their performance but also on managing the team and its dynamics. Ponting emphasised the importance of compartmentalising responsibilities and suggested that some players are better suited to handle these demands than others.
In endorsing Babar's captaincy, Ponting acknowledges the role of leadership qualities in shaping the dynamics of a team, emphasising the need for a captain who can effectively manage both personal and team responsibilities.