Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB) reappoints their star batter Babar Azam as their new white ball skipper.
Babar Azam was Renamed as Pakistan White Ball Captain
Following Pakistan’s failure in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 in India, Babar Azam has stepped down as captain. In contrast, Shaheen Afridi handed over the T20I captain role while Shan Masood took over the Test captaincy.
Shaheen Afridi got the T20I captaincy role following his performances in the Pakistan Super League, where he led Lahore Qalandars to consecutive title wins in 2022 and 2023.
But Shaheen failed to fulfil the board’s expectations in his first assignment as captain. He led Pakistan in a five-match T20I series in New Zealand where the team secured victory in just one game.
With an ICC event scheduled around the middle of the year, the Pakistan Cricket Board reinstated Babar Azam as their new whiteball captain.
“Following unanimous recommendation from the PCB’s selection committee, Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi has appointed Babar Azam as white-ball (ODI and T20I) captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team,” said PCB in a statement.
Babar Azam appointed as white-ball captain
Following unanimous recommendation from the PCB’s selection committee, Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi has appointed Babar Azam as white-ball (ODI and T20I) captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team. pic.twitter.com/ad4KLJYRMK
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 31, 2024
Azam’s first assignment after reappointment as captain will be the upcoming five-match home T20I series against New Zealand. With the T20 World Cup just two months away, Pakistan would aim to enhance their preparations for the marquee event under his leadership.
Under his leadership, Pakistan reached the final of the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022. PCB will expect a replica of the 2022 event with better results as the tournament shifts to the USA and West Indies.
Pakistan feature in Group A of the T20 World Cup, and will meet India, Ireland, Canada and the USA.
