Shahid Afridi ‘surprised’ by Babar Azam’s return as captain, Said
Former Pakistani cricket captain Shahid Afridi has expressed his surprise at the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to reinstate Babar Azam as the white-ball captain of the national team. Afridi suggested that Mohammad Rizwan would have been a better choice following the sacking of Shaheen Afridi. However, despite his initial reservations, Afridi extended his full support to Babar Azam after the decision was made.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced Babar Azam’s reappointment as the white-ball captain on their social media platforms. The decision comes ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, set to be held in the West Indies and the United States of America.
According to PCB’s official announcement, Babar Azam will lead the Pakistan men’s cricket team in both ODI and T20I formats. The appointment follows a unanimous recommendation from the PCB’s selection committee, chaired by Mohsin Naqvi.
Babar Azam’s second tenure as the white-ball captain will commence with a five-match home T20I series against New Zealand, starting on April 18 in Rawalpindi. Azam had previously captained Pakistan in white-ball cricket from 2019 to 2023 before stepping down due to the team’s poor performance in the ICC World Cup 2023.
With Babar Azam back at the helm, the PCB aims to revitalize Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team and prepare for the upcoming challenges, including the ICC T20 World Cup. The decision marks a significant development in Pakistan cricket as they gear up for crucial competitions under Babar Azam’s leadership once again.
