Babar Azam reportedly asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to re-appoint him as captain in all three formats. It was after scoring the most runs in PSL season nine. So, the PCB requested Babar to replace Shaheen Shah Afridi as T20I captain after one series against New Zealand in January ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Still, ESPN Cricinfo stated that the 29-year-old has not responded. Babar Azam ‘wants captaincy back’ in every format.
Babar Azam ‘wants captaincy back’ in every format
The cricketer, Babar was relieved from all captaincy duties after the ICC World Cup 2023, with Shaheen. With taking over the shorter format and Shan Masood becoming Test captain. No ODI captain was announced. According to ESPN Cricinfo, Babar must be captain of all forms to accept PCB’s World Cup offer.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said he doesn’t know who will captain the squad in the World Cup. Naqvi’s presser sparked rumors that Afridi may be removed as T20I captain.
“Even I don’t know the captain,” Naqvi stated. “The fitness camp on Monday will decide whether Shaheen stays or is replaced as captain.
“We will evaluate certain technical variables, which I won’t discuss. We want a long-term solution, whether Shaheen or a new man. “We’ll stick with that captain instead of changing him after a loss,” he said.
So, if the PCB accepts Babar’s offer to captain all three forms, Shan Masood will have to resign as red-ball captain after one series against Australia in December 2023.
Pakistan lost the series 3-0, however they played more aggressively and came near to winning the third Test.
Babar Azam has captained Pakistan in five international tournaments—TT20 World Cup 2021 and 2022, Asia Cup 2022 and 2023, and World Cup 2023—but the Green Shirts have not won any ICC or Asia Cup trophies.
