When Babar Azam was offered the role of Pakistan’s Test captain, he agreed under the condition of being the captain across all formats. This decision came after Shan Masood faced poor results in Test cricket, leading to his removal. Babar expressed his desire to lead in all three formats, and selectors agreed to consider him for all-format captaincy based on team performance in upcoming matches.
Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi currently captains the one-day international format, having faced challenges as the T20I captain in the past. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took two months to finalize the decision after Shan Masood’s unsuccessful stint as Test captain, losing 12 out of 16 Tests under his leadership.
Salman Agha was initially approached for the role but declined due to concerns about team performance and cohesion. Pakistan’s performance in the recent T20 World Cup, where they failed to reach the semi-finals, highlighted the need for a change in leadership. Babar Azam’s previous stint as Test captain showed promise with ten wins in 20 matches, six defeats, and four draws.
Former Pakistan player Basit Ali has predicted that Babar Azam will lead Pakistan in the upcoming ODI World Cup. There is speculation that Babar might take over the T20I captaincy as well in the future. These decisions come after a series of discussions and evaluations within the Pakistan Cricket Board.
