Lahore: Just months before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reinstated star batter Babar Azam as the white-ball captain of the national cricket team. Babar Azam, upon regaining the captaincy of the national cricket team, said that as captain he has always valued the input of Shaheen.
Speaking to the media, Babar Azam emphasized the importance of Shaheen Afridi’s input, stating, “As a captain, I have always valued his [Shaheen’s] input and I will keep consulting him for important decisions going forward. Our joint aim is to make this team the best in the world.”
“As a team player, it is my duty to back our captain, Babar Azam,” stated Shaheen Afridi in a statement released by the PCB. “I have played under his captaincy and have nothing but respect for him. Our aim is the same, to help Pakistan become the best team in the world.”
Previously, Babar Azam had relinquished the captaincy to Shaheen Afridi, who led Lahore Qalandars to consecutive title wins in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2022 and 2023. However, Afridi’s stint as captain in international cricket during a T20I series in New Zealand saw limited success, prompting the PCB to reinstate Babar Azam as captain.
Babar Azam’s first task after being reinstated will be leading Pakistan in the upcoming five-match home T20I series against New Zealand, serving as crucial preparation for the T20 World Cup. Under Babar Azam’s captaincy, Pakistan reached the final of the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022, and the team is now aiming to go one step further in the upcoming tournament, which will be held in the USA and West Indies.
Pakistan has been placed in Group A of the T20 World Cup, where they will face tough competition from teams like India, Ireland, Canada, and the USA. With Azam back at the helm, Pakistan hopes to enhance their preparations and make a strong impact in the highly anticipated tournament.
It should be noted that former captain Shahid Afridi has expressed surprise at Babar Azam’s captaincy, saying that he is amazed at the PCB’s selection. If a change was necessary, then Mohammad Rizwan was the best choice.
“I am surprised by the decision by very experienced cricketers in the selection committee. I still believe that if change was necessary than Rizwan was the best choice! But since now the decision has been made I offer my full support and best wishes to team Pakistan and Babar Azam,” Shahid Afridi posted on ‘X’.
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