Will Babar Azam lead Pakistan for one last time against England at Eden Gardens on Saturday? Babar didn’t reveal his cards but showed his amicable nature on the eve of the World Cup match.

Babar presented a pair of gloves to one of the ball boys and happily posed with the net bowlers on Friday.

Pakistan’s chances of qu­alifying for the World Cup semi-finals are virtually over and it could have an impact on Babar continuing as captain.

There have already been calls to have a new skipper in Shaheen Shah Afridi or Moha­mmad Rizwan. There’s been immense pressure on Babar to step down over the past few days and how he handles it could determine his fate.

Pakistan leave for Australia for a three-Test series immediately after the World Cup and Babar may be allowed to continue keeping in mind the continuity factor. Babar’s stature could also make the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to leave it to him to take a call.

There is also a school of thought that there could be no change immediately since the general elections are due in Pakistan early next year and the composition of the PCB would depend on its outcome. The Prime Minister is the patron-in-chief of the PCB and has a say in the appointment of its chairman. Babar could thus wait for the PCB to be for­med after the elections.

Chief selector Inzamam-ul Haq has already resigned citing a conflict of interest. His papers have been accepted by the PCB.

“Looking ahead, the board will make decisions in the best interest of Pakistan cricket based on the team’s performa­nces in the World Cup,” a statement issued by the PCB last month said.

Babar has had a not-too-impressive World Cup by his lofty standards, scoring 282 runs in eight matches at an average of 40.28.

Babar though kept his options open. “About the captaincy... as I said, once we go back to Pakistan or after this match, we will see what happens. But right now, I am not focusing on this, my focus is on the next match,” he said at a news conference on Friday.

He was appointed limited-overs captain in May 2020 when Ehsan Mani was the PCB chairman.

Babar chose to look at the brighter side of things highlighting that the team had reached the finals of the Asia Cup 2022 and the T20 World Cup in Australia under his leadership.

“It’s just because I have not performed the way I should have in the World Cup, that’s why people are saying that I am under pressure. I am under no pressure. I have been doing this for the last 2.5 or 3 years. I was the one who was performing and I was the one who was the captain. I was applying the same thing,” Babar said.

“Everyone has their own point of view, their own way of thinking... It is easy to give advice on TV. If you want to give me some advice, you can message me.

“I don’t think I was under any pressure or felt any diffe­rent because of this. I try to give my best in the field during fielding. During batting, I think about how I should make runs and make the team win.”