Babar Azam Replaces Shaheen Afridi
In a surprising turn of events, Pakistan cricket witnessed the return of Babar Azam as the captain of their white-ball teams (ODIs and T20Is). This comes just four months after he stepped down from the leadership role following Pakistan’s disappointing performance at the 2023 ODI World Cup.
The news was confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on their official social media channels on Sunday, March 31st. Babar Azam’s first assignment as the newly reinstated captain will be the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, kicking off in April on home soil.
This decision follows rumors swirling for days that Babar Azam was being considered for a return to the captaincy. The PCB’s tweet announcing the appointment included a video featuring Babar and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi engaged in a seemingly light-hearted conversation.
Babar Azam’s initial removal from captaincy came in November 2023 under the leadership of then-chairman Zaka Ashraf. The move followed Pakistan’s failure to secure a spot in the semifinals of the ODI World Cup. Following this, Babar also relinquished his captaincy in Test matches.
However, with the T20 World Cup 2024 scheduled for June in the West Indies and USA, the PCB has entrusted Babar with the responsibility of leading the white-ball teams once again.
Babar Azam’s Return After Shaheen’s Short Stint
Shaheen Afridi’s short stint as T20I captain comes to an end with this development. Afridi was appointed captain after Babar’s removal and led the team during their five-match tour of New Zealand in January 2024. Unfortunately, the tour wasn’t a success, with Pakistan losing the series 4-1.
Reports suggest Shaheen’s disappointment at being removed from captaincy after just one series. A source close to the pacer, quoted by Hindustan Times, revealed Shaheen’s expectation of being informed by the board about the reasons behind the decision.
Regardless, Shaheen will now find himself playing under Babar’s leadership once again during the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. Pakistan has a busy schedule ahead of the T20 World Cup, with 12 T20I matches lined up before the marquee tournament. The team will be looking to regain form and momentum under Babar’s renewed captaincy.
