Pakistan captain Babar Azam has on Wednesday (April 28) quashed the criticism of being a powerless captain while reiterating that he has “total control and say in team selection and other matters”.

Babar has been frequently facing accusations of being a captain without authority who doesn’t take individual decisions and took dictation from Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq, but the star batsman has denied it and said he knows his responsibilities as captain.

Babar said in a virtual press conference: “I don’t understand but frequently it is said in press conferences and in the media that I don’t have authority and don’t take independent decisions.”

He further added, “I want to make it clear once and for all that I have total control and say in team selection and other matters. I handle everything on the field and I decide the playing eleven with the management giving their input. I know what my responsibilities are as captain.”

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The skipper has also insisted that he has no issues with the head coach and any other support staff by saying: “The team management is fully supporting every player, so I am happy.”

He also said the upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe starting in Harare from Thursday, April 29 would not be an easy assignment for Pakistan, saying the hosts might be low in Test rankings but no team could be taken lightly at the top level as they would have a home advantage.

Babar has also hinted that Pakistan would more or less go with the same combination with which they played against South Africa in the home series. He also denied any worry about the frequent middle-order failures in the white ball series against Zimbabwe.

The seasoned leg-spinner Yasir Shah is not playing due to an injury and Babar said his experience is always missed but they also have good spinners in Nauman Ali Nawaz and Zahid Mahmood for the Test format.

(With PTI Inputs)