Babar Azam reveals the One Condition to PCB after which he will agree to captain Pakistan once again

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is eager to appoint star batter Babar Azam as the captain of the T20I side ahead of the upcoming World Cup. However, Babar Azam has reportedly demanded a return before assuming the leadership of the national cricket team again.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi recently hinted at a change in captaincy for the national team ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 in June. According to a report by ESPN Cricinfo, Babar Azam was approached by PCB management to lead the team in the T20I format.

Following the Men in Green’s disappointing performance during the ODI World Cup 2023, Babar Azam was asked to step down from the white-ball captaincy. However, the ace batter also relinquished leadership across all formats, opting against split captaincy.

Babar Azam Wants To Lead Pakistan Team Across Three Formats

According to recent reports, the selectors are scheduled to visit Kakul this Saturday to convince Babar Azam to assume the captaincy in a shorter format. This decision stemmed from a late-night meeting between chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the selectors on Friday.

The PCB initially seeks Babar to lead until the upcoming T20 World Cup, yet the batter desires a more long-term commitment. The 29-year-old has conveyed to the Pakistan Cricket Board his aspiration to lead in all formats if he were to accept the T20I captaincy.

The PCB’s acceptance of Babar Azam’s demands will abruptly end Shaheen Shah Afridi’s brief tenure as T20I captain and Shan Masood’s stint as red-ball captain. Babar’s demand for full captaincy puts current Pakistan team skippers in a delicate situation.

PCB is expected to announce a decision on the captaincy during a press conference scheduled for Sunday. Babar has led Pakistan in five tournaments, including the T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022, as well as the Asia Cups in 2022 and 2023, and the 2023 World Cup.

Shaheen Afridi Led Pakistan In Last T20I Series

Afridi’s tenure as T20I captain commenced poorly with a 1-4 defeat against New Zealand. His leadership abilities faced further scrutiny during the 2024 Pakistan Super League, as he steered Lahore Qalandars to the bottom of the table with just one victory in the season.

The instability in the cricket board has caused chaos in Pakistan cricket, with players, team management, and PCB officials operating without clear direction. Finding a head coach for the national team remains a significant issue, alongside the captaincy dilemma.

Speculation surrounds the head coach position, with former South African opener Gary Kirsten and ex-Australian pacer Jason Gillespie emerging as leading candidates. Kirsten may lead the white-ball coaching setup, while Gillespie could take charge of the red-ball side.

Pakistan is set to face New Zealand and England in T20 matches ahead of the ICC event. Mohammad Rizwan, who led the Multan Sultans to the PSL final, currently serves as the vice-captain of the T20I team and boasts considerable experience within the squad.

Also read: Babar Azam joins teammates for intensive training at Kakul camp after missing two days