PCB considering bringing Babar Azam back as captain: Report

The Pakistan Cricket Board is reportedly considering bringing back Babar Azam back as the captain of the men’s team, suggesting lack of faith in Shan Masood and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Babar had quit as Pakistan captain across formats after the team failed to progress past the group stage in the ODI World Cup last year. Thereafter, Masood was appointed Test captain and Shaheen was made the T20I skipper.

PCB sources, as per news agency PTI, said the board had concluded that with no viable option available, Babar was the best choice to lead the side again.

“The funny part is that the powers that be appear to have lost faith in Shan Masood and Shaheen Shah Afridi’s ability to lead the national side in Test and T20 formats with the change in the board’s chairmanship,” a source told PTI.

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The source added that the interesting part is that Babar has some reservations. “Feelers have been sent out to Babar to find out if he is ready to take charge again and he has shown some reservations. Apparently, he wants some assurances from the board chairman,” the source added.

Babar Azam was removed as Pakistan captain in white-ball format immediately after the World Cup when Zaka Ashraf was PCB chairman. He then opted to step down as red-ball captain as well. He had held the position in all formats since 2020 but poor performances in the Asia Cup and World Cup led to his axing.

“Shaheen, during Zaka’s time, was seen as the saviour of Pakistan cricket as T20 captain as he had won two finals for Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League. But he now appears to have run out of favour very quickly with the change of guard in the board,” another source said.

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Shaheen not only lost his first series as captain in New Zealand (1-4) but returned to see Qalandars finish bottom in the PSL this year.

The source added that the current chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, was relying heavily on the advice of former players. The source said that with the return of seasoned players like Imad Wasim and Mohammed Amir from retirement, it has also been decided that the chairman will meet the duo, along with Babar, to sort out any misunderstandings.