Babar Azam, the cricketer known for his batting skills, is back as the captain of Pakistan’s cricket team for one-day and Twenty20 matches. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced this decision on Sunday.
They said it came after a suggestion from their selection committee and Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman. Babar previously led the team in T20 matches in 2019 and later took over the Test and one-day international teams in 2020.
He stepped down from captaincy last November due to poor team performance in tournaments like the Asia Cup and the 50-over World Cup. At that time, Shaheen Shah Afridi took over as T20 captain and Shan Masood became Test captain.
Babar’s return as captain means Shaheen’s time leading the T20 team was short-lived. Some people in the PCB thought it was a mistake not to involve Shaheen in the decision-making process, which might affect team unity.
During Babar’s previous tenure as captain, senior players like Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir were left out of the team due to selectors’ preferences. They openly criticized Babar’s leadership. However, under Mohsin’s leadership, both Imad and Amir returned to international cricket after reversing their retirements. They are expected to be part of the squad for the T20 World Cup.
With Babar back as captain, there might be some tension regarding the selection of players. Babar will also be part of the selection committee along with some former Test players and a data analyst.
Before agreeing to become captain again, Babar set some conditions. He wants full authority as captain for at least two years and does not want to be held responsible for the team’s performance in the upcoming World Cup.
Currently, Pakistan’s team is preparing for the T20 series against New Zealand without a coach. They are undergoing training at the Pakistan Military Academy.