‘Babar Azam in, Shaheen Afridi out’

• Babar to assume charge during T20 series against Kiwis. 
• He will participate in the Kakul training camp as captain.
• Shaheen considering to step down from the captaincy.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to reappoint Babar Azam as captain after the newly-formed selection committee’s recommendation to change the skipper, Geo News reported Friday, citing sources.

According to the sources, Babar would assume the charge during the upcoming five-match T20 series against New Zealand.

The PCB under Zaka Ashraf appointed Shaheen Shah Afridi as white-ball captain following the team’s drubbing in the ICC World Cup 2023. Shan Masood was given the red-ball captaincy by the previous management.

The selection committee proposed to appoint Babar as the team’s captain, said the sources, adding that the 29-year-old will participate in the Kakul training camp as the captain. 

Meanwhile, sources close to Shaheen have advised him not to leave the captaincy, however, the pacer is considering to step down from the captaincy.

Babar stepped down as the skipper of the national side from all formats, ending his years-long stint in the leading position, in November last year, following a humiliating World Cup campaign.

The former skipper was under fire for several months after Pakistan failed to perform in the Asia Cup and continued the same momentum into the World Cup — where they crashed out before reaching the semis.

Babar was previously appointed white-ball captain in 2019 and as Test skipper in 2020, but the Green Shirts have not won any ICC or Asia Cup titles under his leadership.