NEW DELHI: It has been revealed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering reinstating former skipper
Babar Azam
as the captain of the national side across all formats. Sources within the
PCB
have indicated that concerns over the leadership capabilities of
Shan Masood
and
Shaheen Shah Afridi
have prompted a reassessment of the captaincy.
Babar Azam, who relinquished his captaincy following Pakistan's early exit from the ODI World Cup in India last year, is reportedly being viewed as the most viable option to lead the team once again.
While Masood was entrusted with the Test captaincy and Shaheen was appointed as the T20I skipper, both have seemingly failed to instill confidence within the PCB hierarchy.
Sources privy to PCB's internal discussions revealed that Babar Azam has been approached regarding the potential captaincy reinstatement, although he has expressed reservations and sought assurances from the board chairman before committing to the role.
Interestingly, the dynamics within the PCB seem to have shifted with the change in leadership, leading to a reevaluation of captaincy choices. Babar's previous stint as captain came to an end amid Zaka Ashraf's chairmanship, following Pakistan's disappointing performances in the Asia Cup and World Cup.
"Feelers have been sent out to Babar to find out if he is ready to take charge again and he has shown some reservations. Apparently, he wants some assurances from the board chairman," the source added.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, once hailed as the saviour of Pakistan cricket, has seemingly fallen out of favour, facing criticism for his leadership and recent team performances. Despite initial successes, including leading Lahore Qalandars to victory in the
Pakistan Super League
, Shaheen's fortunes have waned, with recent defeats denting his credibility.
The current PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, is reportedly leaning on the counsel of former players in key decision-making processes. Furthermore, the impending return of seasoned players like Imad Wasim and Muhammad Amir from retirement underscores the board's efforts to bolster the team's resources and address any underlying issues.
(Inputs from PTI)
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