In a surprising turn of events, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering reinstating Babar Azam as the captain for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. This development comes amidst reports of Shaheen Shah Afridi’s T20I captaincy being at risk.
While Mohammad Rizwan was initially seen as a strong contender to replace Shaheen, recent shifts have placed Babar Azam at the forefront of the captaincy race. The PCB is reportedly on the verge of finalizing Babar as their choice.
Babar Azam had previously stepped down from his white-ball captaincy post-2023 World Cup, paving the way for Shaheen Afridi to take over the T20I leadership. Following his removal from the T20I captaincy, Babar also relinquished his red-ball leadership, leading to Shan Masood’s appointment as Test captain. This period saw a dip in Pakistan’s performance, with the team losing all three Tests in Australia and suffering a 1-4 defeat in the T20I series in New Zealand.
The PCB has since undergone a leadership change, with Mohsin Naqvi taking over as chairman from Zaka Ashraf. Naqvi hinted at a potential shift in captaincy during a recent press conference in Lahore.
Insiders reveal that Babar Azam, dissatisfied with the handling of his previous removal from the captaincy, is hesitant to reassume the role. He is seeking assurances from the board on certain matters and will only agree to return as captain if his concerns are addressed.
In related news, 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. Babar’s potential reappointment raises questions about the dynamic between him and Imad, Amir, who have previously criticized Babar’s captaincy and batting in T20Is on national television.
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