Babar Azam announced as Pakistan captain

On Sunday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced Babar Azam’s reinstatement as the captain of the Pakistan side in white-ball cricket, marking the end of Shaheen Shah Afridi’s one-series stint as T20I captain. His first task back as skipper will be leading Pakistan in a five-match T20I home series against New Zealand next month. 

The decision to appoint Babar as the white-ball captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team came following a unanimous recommendation from the PCB’s selection committee, chaired by Mohsin Naqvi. Babar had reluctantly stepped down from the captaincy earlier after the PCB indicated their intention to name a replacement in November, leading to Afridi’s appointment. 

For Babar, this decision represents a sense of vindication after his removal as captain following Pakistan’s indifferent performance in the World Cup. His ouster, presented as a fait accompli by former PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, led to Babar’s resignation. However, the PCB’s turnaround to reinstate him after just four months and one white-ball series signifies his regained strength within the team.

Babar’s reinstatement was supported by the majority of the newly appointed members to the selection panel, with Babar laying down certain preconditions before accepting the captaincy once again. He sought guarantees of a longer tenure as captain, with assurances that he would not be removed arbitrarily following the T20I World Cup in June. Additionally, he requested greater control in matters of selection, signaling his desire for more authority within the team.

Meanwhile, Afridi’s brief tenure as skipper is unlikely to have helped him as a player, especially considering the rapid loss of faith in his leadership abilities. Pakistan’s poor performance in the T20I series against New Zealand, where they lost 4-1, and Afridi’s franchise, Lahore Qalandars’ dismal showing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) further undermined his position. Despite his potential for growth in the role, Afridi’s lack of experience and the team’s poor results led to his removal and his replacement with Babar. 

In all, the move is expected to be a good move for Pakistan Cricket, and hopefully, they should record better results in their forthcoming games. 

Leon Osamor