After scoring most runs in PSL season nine, Pakistan cricket sensation Babar Azam has reportedly asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to appoint him as skipper again in all three formats.
Babar was asked by the PCB to become T20I captain, replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi just after one series against New Zealand in January, ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup but the 29-year-old has not yet given any answer to the management, ESPN Cricinfo reported.
Following the conclusion of the ICC World Cup 2023, Babar was removed from the captaincy from all formats with Shaheen taking the realm of the shorter format and Shan Masood becoming Test captain while no skipper for ODIs was announced.
To consider PCB’s request to lead the team in the World Cup, Babar set his terms of becoming the captain of all formats otherwise he will not even consider the offer, as per ESPN Cricinfo.
The chairman of PCB Mohsin Naqvi in an earlier press conference stated that he isn’t aware who will be the team’s captain in the World Cup. Naqvi’s presser gave birth to rumours which are likely to conclude with Afridi’s removal as the T20I captain.
“Even I don’t know who the captain will be,” Naqvi said. “Whether Shaheen continues or a new captain comes in will be determined after the fitness camp [starting on Monday].
“There are a number of technical factors we will consider, the details of which I do not want to go into. We want a long-term solution, whether it’s Shaheen or a new man. And then we intend to stick by that man, instead of just changing a captain just because you lose a match or captain,” he added.