Pakistan cricket star Babar Azam has reportedly urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reinstate him as the captain across all three game formats. With Mohsin Naqvi now at the helm as the PCB chairman, succeeding Zaka Ashraf, Babar Azam has received an opportunity to reclaim his leadership role after stepping down following the World Cup 2023 amid reports of being pressured by Zaka Ashraf. Reports suggest that the PCB is inclined to have Babar back as captain, but the star batsman has laid out certain conditions, with being appointed captain for all formats is a key demand.
Following Babar Azam’s resignation, Shaheen Shah Afridi took over the T20I captaincy, while Shan Masood was appointed captain for the Test format. However, there has been no designated captain for the ODIs as of now. Babar Azam’s reluctance to accept the captaincy initially stemmed from his past experiences with the PCB, casting doubts on his willingness to lead the team again.
Shaheen Shah Afridi’s stint as T20I captain faced scrutiny, particularly after Lahore Qalandars’ poor performance in the PSL 2024, where they managed just one win out of ten round-robin games. With the T20 World Cup 2024 approaching, the PCB feels the need for an experienced captain, prompting discussions about reinstating Babar Azam.
The decision to remove Shaheen Shah Afridi as T20I captain has sparked mixed reactions, with some advocating for more time for him to prove himself, while others question the wisdom of appointing him as captain in the first place, given the looming World Cup.
Although not officially confirmed, reports indicate that Babar Azam is likely to be named captain ahead of the upcoming five-match T20I series. However, it remains unclear if he will also be appointed captain for the ODI matches. No discussions have surfaced regarding Shan Masood’s captaincy, especially after his team’s dismal performance against Australia.
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