The PCB contemplated reinstating Babar Azam as captain across all formats amid concerns over the leadership of Shan Masood and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) thought of reinstating Babar Azam as the captain of the national team across all formats. The potential shift in leadership came after concerns emerged regarding the leadership skills of Pakistan’s current captains, Shan Masood (Tests) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (T20Is).
Babar Azam, who stepped down from the captaincy following Pakistan’s disappointing exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup, is seen as a strong candidate to lead the team once again. Masood and Afridi, appointed after Azam’s departure, have not seemingly convinced the PCB of their long-term leadership capabilities. Therefore, besides Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam was also in contention for the captaincy. However, according to Cricket Pakistan, “Recent developments have positioned Babar as the primary candidate for the captaincy once again.”
Sources familiar with internal discussions revealed that the PCB approached Babar Azam about a potential return to the captaincy. However, Azam reportedly expressed reservations and requested assurances from the new PCB chairman before taking on the role. “Feelers have been sent out to Babar to find out if he is ready to take charge again, and he has shown some reservations. Apparently, he wants some assurances from the board chairman,” the source said, as quoted by the Times of India.
Additionally, Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir might also make their return for the T20 World Cup in June. “Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir have reversed their international retirements and are likely to be included in Pakistan’s T20I squad for the World Cup,” read the conclusion of the report released by Cricket Pakistan.
Last Updated on March 27, 2024
