The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has opted to reinstate Babar Azam as the T20 captain following the recommendation of the newly established selection committee, which proposed a change in leadership.
Reports indicate that Babar will reassume the captaincy role during the upcoming five-match T20 series against New Zealand.
Under the leadership of Zaka Ashraf, the PCB had previously appointed Shaheen Shah Afridi as the captain for white-ball cricket after Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ICC World Cup 2023. Shan Masood was assigned the role of red-ball captain by the previous management.
According to sources, the selection committee unanimously advised PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to appoint Babar Azam as the T20 captain. The 29-year-old is expected to lead the team during the Kakul training camp.
Meanwhile, Shaheen Shah Afridi was contemplating resigning from his position as T20I captain in light of these developments. However, sources close to the pacer advised against it, emphasizing that the appointment of the captain is at the discretion of the cricket board, and he should accept their decision.
Babar Azam had stepped down from the captaincy of the national team across all formats in November last year, following Pakistan’s disappointing World Cup campaign. He had faced criticism for several months due to Pakistan’s poor performance in the Asia Cup and the subsequent World Cup, where they failed to advance to the semifinals.
While Babar had previously been appointed as the white-ball captain in 2019 and the Test captain in 2020, Pakistan did not secure any ICC or Asia Cup titles under his leadership.
In other developments, the cricket board has decided to appoint separate coaches for white-ball and red-ball cricket. Sources suggest that discussions regarding the appointment of coaches are in the final stages. It is expected that Gary Kirsten from South Africa will be appointed as the coach for white-ball cricket, while Jason Gillespie from Australia will take on the role for red-ball cricket.
Negotiations with both coaches are underway, covering various aspects including the sports staff and domestic coaches. Gillespie may assume responsibilities during Kirsten’s other commitments.
