Babar Azam’s return as Pakistan captain
Azam will replace Shaheen Afridi in the role ahead of New Zealand series
Azam is set to return as Pakistan captain ahead of the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand on home soil, according to sources.Â
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally taken the decision to reappoint Azam, who had stepped down as captain from all formats in November last year.
The decision to bring back Azam as captain was taken after recommendation from the selection committee.
Meanwhile, Shaheen was thinking about stepping down as T20I captain after the development. However, sources close to the pacer have advised him against it since appointing captain is the prerogative of the cricket board and whatever the PCB decides he should accept it.
It must be noted that Shaheen replaced Azam as skipper in T20I cricket and Shan Masood in Tests last year.
This development has come after this statement of PCB. that he will decide Shaheen’s future as captain of the T20 team after the ongoing fitness camp in Kakul, which ends on April 8.
While talking at a presser
While talking at a presser after the announcement of the selection committee on March 24, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi didn’t talk much on Shaheen’s future as captain.
“Even I don’t know who will be the captain,” Naqvi said. Shaheen will continue or a new captain will come. That will be determined after the fitness camp [starting on Monday].
“There are a lot of technical factors that we will look at. I don’t want to go into the details. We want a long-term solution, whether it’s Shaheen or a new guy. And then we intend to stick with that guy. Instead of just changing the captain just because you lost the match or the captain.”
Azam resigned as captain of the national team across all formats in November after a humiliating World Cup campaign. who ended his years-long tenure at the important position. HD Live Sports
The former captain was under fire for several months when Pakistan failed to perform in the Asia Cup. And continued that momentum at the World Cup – where he crashed out before reaching the semi-finals.
Azam was earlier appointed as the white ball captain in 2019 and the Test captain in 2020. But the Green Shirts have not won any ICC or Asia Cup titles under his leadership