Babar Azam reappointed as Captain ahead of T20 World Cup
Pakistan’s start batter Babar Azam reappointed as Captain ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). On 31st March 2024, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has reinstated Babar Azam as Pakistan’s white ball (ODIs & T20Is) captain and confirmed through social media. Hence, the star batter is set to lead the Pakistan Cricket Team in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 as he was handed white ball captaincy following a unanimous suggestion from the selection committee of PCB.
Babar Azam surrendered his captaincy from all three formats of the game following Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. Pakistan managed to win only 4 out of their 9 matches and failed to qualify for the Semi-Finals of the 2023 WC. In a result, the left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was handed the captaincy of Pakistan in the T20I format and the left-handed batter Shan Masood was appointed as the Test Captain of Pakistan. Whereas the appointment of Pakistan’s ODI captain was on hold.
Based on the performances in Pakistan Super League season 7 and 8, Shaheen Shah Afridi was appointed as Pakistan T20I captain where Shaheen Afridi led Lahore Qalandars (LQ) to two consecutive PSL title win in 2022 and 2023. However, in his first assignment as Pakistan T20I Captain against New Zealand in New Zealand, Pakistan managed to win only 1 match of the 5-match T20I series. Moreover, Lahore Qalandars (LQ) finished at the bottom of the table in Pakistan Super League season 9 2024 under the leadership of Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Player’s Thoughts
In a statement released by PCB, Shaheen Afridi said: “As a team player, it’s my responsibility to back our captain Babar Azam. I have played under his leadership and I have nothing but respect for Babar Azam. We all are one and I will try my best to help him on and off the field. Our aim is the same, to help the Pakistan team become the best team in the world.”
Captain Babar Azam also emphasizes the role and importance of Shaheen Shah Afridi in the leadership group going forward. He stated: “As a captain, I have always appreciated Shaheen Afridi’s contribution and I will keep consulting him for important decisions going forward. We must take benefit of Shaheen’s strategic understanding of the game and our joint aim is to make Pakistan team the best team in the world.”
Pakistan’s upcoming T20I series ahead of World Cup
Babar Azam reappointed as captain of a white-ball Pakistan Cricket team, the first assignment of Babar Azam will be the upcoming 5-match T20I series against New Zealand at home. Pakistan will also tour to Ireland and England for the T20I series ahead of the T20 World Cup which is scheduled to be held in the West Indies and the USA. Pakistan is in Group A of the T20I World Cup 2024 where they will face arch-rivals India along with Ireland, Canada, and the United States of America.
Previously, under the captaincy of Babar Azam, Pakistan reached in the Semi-Final of the 2021 T20 World Cup and reached the Final of the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. Pakistan will look for a mighty performance at the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.