Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram said that Babar Azam should have remained a player rather than taking over the Test captaincy. Akram made the comments while speaking alongside former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis at a charity fundraising event in Manchester.

"I do not want to blame anyone, and I could be wrong as well," Akram said. "But in my opinion, Babar should not have taken the captaincy. All of this was unnecessary." Akram was referring to the events surrounding Pakistan's Test tour of England, where the team underwent a major overhaul following defeats in the first two Tests.

During the toss ahead of the third Test in Birmingham, Babar was asked about the decision to send seven players home and make changes to the coaching staff. The captain replied that he was unaware of the changes, prompting critical remarks from several former cricketers regarding decision-making within the team.

Babar Azam was appointed Pakistan's Test captain ahead of the team's important international fixtures. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has faced scrutiny following mixed results in recent Test series, with analysts calling for better clarity and alignment between the board leadership and team management.