Former captain Babar Azam recently met with Mohsin Naqvi amidst rumours of his potential return to the captaincy in the T20I format. Naqvi, who was recently appointed as the chairman of the PCB, has been tasked with crucial decisions regarding team leadership.
Babar’s resignation from the captaincy across all formats after the World Cup 2023, during Zaka Ashraf’s tenure, raised eyebrows as it was widely believed that he was forced to step down. However, with a new management regime in place, reports are suggesting that Babar might be reinstated as the captain for the T20I format.
Following Babar’s departure, Shaheen Afridi was named as the T20I skipper, but his tenure didn’t kick off well as the team suffered a 4-1 defeat against New Zealand. Moreover, his leadership skills came under scrutiny when Lahore Qalandars, a team he captained in the Pakistan Super League 2024, faced a dismal campaign, losing nine matches in the round-robin stage.
With the T20 World Cup looming, the PCB is wary of having an inexperienced captain at the helm. Therefore, discussions have been initiated regarding Babar’s potential return as captain for the T20I format.
During the meeting between Mohsin and Babar, it is reported that Babar has expressed certain conditions for his return, aiming to avoid the treatment he faced under Zaka Ashraf’s leadership. These conditions are believed to be crucial in ensuring a smoother and more respectful relationship between the board and the captain.
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