Former skipper Babar Azam or Muhammad Rizwan is likely to become the captain of the T20I team for Pakistan. Sources are rife that, Shahen Shah Afridi will no longer be the captain of the T20I side.
Instead, sources within the media state that Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan are in a race for captaincy. Babar Azam was removed from captaincy by former PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf.
With the change in PCB management, fans could once again see the change in the management of the team. Only time will tell, who will win the crown of captaincy from Babar Azam to Muhammad Rizwan, however, Shaheen Shah Afridi is less likely to retain his captaincy.
The poor performances of Shaheen Shah Afridi as a captain of Lahore Qalandars in recently concluded PSL 9 might have triggered the thought for change in the captaincy. New PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is likely to announce the captain soon for the upcoming New Zealand series next month.
With the T20 World Cup just a few months away, the matter of captaincy has gained more significance.
Babar Azam announced his resignation as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team across all formats. The decision follows Pakistan’s disappointing exit from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 group stage.
Azam, a highly regarded batter, shared the news, stating, “It’s a difficult decision, but I feel it is the right time for this call. I will continue to represent Pakistan as a player in all three formats.”
Read more: Alleged audio tape of Zaka Ashraf discussing removal of Babar Azam leaked
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) swiftly appointed Shan Masood as the new test captain, entrusting him with the responsibility through the World Test Championship cycle of 2023-25. Masood’s first major assignment will be leading Pakistan on its tour to Australia next month, featuring three test matches.
Additionally, left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was named the T20 captain, leading the team in a five-match series in New Zealand in January.