Babar 'confident' to continue as Pakistan's Test captain despite England whitewash

Pakistan captain Babar Azam on Saturday called for the national team to critically assess their shortcomings after suffering a 3-0 series whitewash against England in the recently concluded away Test series.

The Green Shirts entered the series after a 1-1 draw against the West Indies but suffered a heavy innings-and-103-run defeat to England in Leeds.

Pakistan then endured another gruelling loss at Lord’s, prompting a mid-series overhaul in which seven players were replaced, along with head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul.

The visitors showed greater resistance in the final Test, highlighted by debutant Razaullah’s blistering half-century and Mohammad Abbas’s two wickets in England’s first over. However, Pakistan eventually lost by eight wickets.

The result saw England complete their first-ever home Test series whitewash against Pakistan. Captain Babar Azam, who missed the opening Test through injury, urged the team to assess their performance and identify their strongest combination.

Babar, however, lauded the spirit shown by the youngsters in the series and affirmed that he would continue his second stint as the Pakistan Test captain.

"We need to sit down and admit our mistakes, and then work out our best XI," said Babar at the post-match presentation.

"Yes," said Babar on continuing as Pakistan Test captain. "But [in] different series you need players for the conditions, but the new boys have done well."

The Pakistan captain also acknowledged that the touring side was high on belief following Abbas's early outburst in the final innings of the recently concluded third Test and dismissed the suggestion that the Green Shirts were missing a spin option, emphasising that the conditions were favourable for the pacers.

"Belief was high with two wickets in the first over, but they played very well," Babar stated.

"Don't think so," said Babar when asked about missing a spinner. "The conditions have been grassy and that's why we played with three fast bowlers."

The skipper specifically praised debutant Razaullah, who picked up four wickets besides scoring 92 runs across the two innings in his maiden Test appearance, hailing the 21-year-old as a "very good talent".

Asked whether he had known much about Razaullah before the series, Babar admitted: "Not too much, to be honest. I learned about his batting, as he came in as an opener [for Peshawar].

"Before we came here, we had to think about the team, and we made a couple of changes. Coming to England, it is difficult for the batters and fast-bowling group."