ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan has appointed Babar Azam as its white-ball captain and ended Shaheen Shah Afridi’s one-series stint as Twenty20 skipper.
“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,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday.
Babar stepped down from the all-format captaincy last year after Pakistan couldn’t make it to the semifinals of the 50-over World Cup in India. But under Afridi’s leadership, Pakistan lost the T20 series in New Zealand 4-1.
The new chairman of the PCB, Mohsin Naqvi, also didn’t especially warm to Afridi, especially after the left-arm fast bowler had a disastrous Pakistan Super League where his franchise – Lahore Qalandars – won just one out of 10 league games under his captaincy and finished last in the tournament.
Pakistan’s next international assignment is a five-match T20 series against New Zealand at home, starting April 18. Pakistan is also due to play three T20s against Ireland and four against England before the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies from June 2.
Meanwhile, Shaheen Afridi has reacted to his sacking as T20I captain. “It was an absolute honour to lead Pakistan in international cricket. I will cheris the moments. As a player, it is my duty to support our captain Babar Azam. I have played under his leadership and I have respect for him. I will help him on the off the fioeld. Oyur’s aim is to make Pakistan the best team in the world,” Shaheen said in a PCB statement.
Babar will lead the Men in Green in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
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