The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is preparing to reinstate Babar Azam as captain ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024.
According to sources, PCB has contacted Babar to offer the captaincy, responding to which he has also come up with conditions to be accepted by the board.
The close sources of Babar Azam told that he has not yet decided whether he will accept the offer or not. However, if his terms get fulfilled then he will consider about holding the position again.
Initially, Mohammad Rizwan was a leading candidate to replace Shaheen, with Babar Azam also in contention. However, recent developments have positioned Babar as the primary candidate for the captaincy once again. PCB officials are close to finalizing their decision to entrust him with the role.
Babar Azam was relieved of his white-ball captaincy after the 2023 World Cup, with Shaheen Afridi taking over T20I leadership. Subsequently, after being removed from T20I captaincy, Babar also stepped down from red-ball leadership, leading to Shan Masood’s appointment as Test captain. Pakistan’s performance suffered, notably losing all three Tests in Australia and facing a 1-4 defeat in the T20I series in New Zealand.
Since then, there has been a change in PCB leadership, with Mohsin Naqvi succeeding Zaka Ashraf as chairman. Naqvi hinted at a potential change in captaincy during his recent press conference in Lahore.
Sources have revealed that Babar Azam was dissatisfied with the handling of his previous re-moval from the captaincy and remains hesitant to accept the responsibility again. He seeks assurances from the board regarding certain matters and will only agree to reassume the captaincy if his concerns are addressed.
Meanwhile, Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir have reversed their international retirements and are likely to be included in Pakistan’s T20I squad for the World Cup. The potential reappointment of Babar Azam raises questions about the dynamic between him and Imad, Amir, who have previously criticized Babar’s captaincy and batting in T20Is on national television.
It is pertinent to note that all the cricket team players are busy at the fitness camp in Kakul after which the Cricket Board will decide regarding the captaincy of the team.—Agencies
