Star batsman Babar Azam was reappointed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain on Sunday, two months ahead of the T20 World Cup. Babar replaces fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi as T20 captain. The pacer has been removed after just one series with Pakistan losing 1-4 to New Zealand in January. The decision to reinstate Babar was taken after a unanimous recommendation from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection committee.
“Following the unanimous recommendation of the PCB selection committee, Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi has appointed Babar Azam as captain of the Pakistan white-ball cricket team (ODI and T20I),” the PCB said in a press release.
During a recent meeting in Lahore with PCB chief Naqvi, Babar reportedly sought assurances over his tenure and asked to be appointed captain of the Test side as well.
However, a reliable source within the PCB revealed that Naqvi clarified the board’s position, indicating that while Babar would get a good run in the white-ball formats, a decision on the Test captaincy will be taken later.
Shan Masood currently leads the red ball team.
“Naqvi made it clear to Babar that PCB will decide on the Test captaincy after appointing the red-ball foreign coach and that Pakistan has no Test commitments until after the World Cup,” the source added.
Babar had stepped down as captain of all three formats after a disappointing performance at the ODI World Cup in India in November last year.
He had given up his role after then PCB chief Zaka Ashraf told him that he would no longer captain the white-ball formats and would only manage the Test team.
Pakistani cricket = Peak Entertainment.
– Babar Azam stepped down as captain.
– Shaheen as T20I captain and Shan Masood as Test captain.
– Shaheen led the team in just 5 T20I and had a poor outing in PSL.
– Now Babar Azam has been reinstated as captain in T20I & ODI. pic.twitter.com/BBq6Xn2nQq
– Johannes. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 31, 2024
Under Babar’s captaincy, Pakistan reached the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. The latest edition of the big event kicks off on June 1 in the US and West Indies.
The source said the announcement was made after selectors – Muhammad Yousuf, Asad Shafiq, Wahab Riaz, Abdul Razzaq and Bilal Afzal – met Shaheen at the training camp in Kakul on Saturday evening and informed him that they wanted him to focus on his work . bowling and felt it was better if a batsman led the white ball teams.
Insiders revealed that Shaheen accepted the change and did not protest much, but pointed out that it was unfair to him to be judged on just one series.
According to the source, Shaheen’s inability to effectively manage the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League, resulting in their last-place finish, coupled with his own inconsistent performances, were key factors influencing the decision to replace him.
“The PCB chairman had made it clear to the selectors that they had to decide who would be the captain and also said that they would be responsible for the performance of the national team in the future,” the source added.
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