- PCB is reportedly considerning to reappoint Babar Azam as skipper.
- The captiancy of Shaheen Afridi is at risk as per reports.
- Babar was unhappy the way his removal from captiancy was handled.
A local news outlet reported on March 12 that the T20I captaincy of Shaheen Shah Afridi is potentially at risk. Initially, Mohammad Rizwan was the frontrunner to replace Shaheen, with Babar Azam also being considered. However, recent developments have shifted the focus towards Babar as the main contender for the captaincy. PCB officials are nearing a decision to assign him the role.
After the 2023 World Cup, Babar Azam was stripped of his white-ball captaincy, and Shaheen Afridi assumed the leadership for T20I. Following his removal from the T20I captaincy, Babar also resigned from the red-ball leadership, resulting in Shan Masood being appointed as the Test captain. Pakistan’s performance took a hit, with notable losses in all three Tests in Australia and a 1-4 defeat in the T20I series in New Zealand.
Since then, there has been a leadership change in the PCB, with Mohsin Naqvi taking over from Zaka Ashraf as chairman. During a recent press conference in Lahore, Naqvi hinted at a possible change in captaincy.
Insiders have disclosed that Babar was unhappy with the way his previous removal from the captaincy was handled and is reluctant to take on the role again. He is seeking assurances from the board on certain issues and will only agree to return as captain if his concerns are addressed.
In the meantime, Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir have come out of their international retirements and are expected to be part of Pakistan’s T20I squad for the World Cup. The potential reinstatement of Babar Azam as captain raises questions about his relationship with Imad and Amir, who have previously criticized Babar’s T20I captaincy and batting on national television.
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