PTK Sports Desk
Babar Azam has been appointed as the new white-ball captain, succeeding Shaheen Shah Afridi. The decision, announced by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, comes after a period of evaluation following Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Babar Azam, already a prominent figure in Pakistani cricket, will now lead the team in both ODIs and T20Is. The move follows a unanimous recommendation from the PCB’s selection committee, reflecting the confidence in Azam’s leadership abilities.
Shaheen Shah Afridi’s stint as T20 captain, which began after the World Cup in India last November, faced scrutiny due to Pakistan’s mixed results under his leadership. Despite initial success with Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League, Afridi’s inability to replicate that success on the international stage led to the decision for a change in leadership.
Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup served as a catalyst for the leadership transition. After a promising start, the team faltered in the middle stages of the tournament, suffering consecutive losses, including an unexpected defeat to Afghanistan. The decision to replace Afridi with Azam underscores the PCB’s commitment to rejuvenating the team and charting a new course for success in white-ball cricket.
With Shan Masood currently leading the Test side, Pakistan now looks towards Babar Azam to provide stability and direction in limited-overs cricket. As one of the most talented batsmen in the world, Azam’s elevation to the captaincy signals a new era for Pakistani cricket, with hopes of reclaiming their dominance in the white-ball formats.
