The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a significant decision to change the captaincy of the T20I team, and they have provided detailed reasons for this change.
In an official statement released on Sunday, the PCB announced Babar Azam as the new captain of the Pakistan Men’s national cricket team for white-ball cricket, replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Babar Azam, a highly talented batsman, has already showcased his leadership skills by captaining Pakistan in 43 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 71 T20Is from 2019 to 2023.
The PCB emphasized that this change in leadership was a strategic move aimed at prioritizing the well-being and peak performance of the players. The board recognizes the exceptional talent and contribution of Shaheen Afridi as a star fast bowler. However, they are keen on managing his workload effectively to maintain his performance at its peak.
The PCB stated, “This decision aligns with the board’s commitment to safeguarding the longevity of the players, especially fast bowlers, given their injury timelines in the past two years.” They added that managing workload is crucial to ensure that Pakistan’s main bowlers remain at the top of their game and avoid any injury crisis, as observed before the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023, where the team had to closely monitor Shaheen Afridi and missed the services of Naseem Shah due to injuries.
In response to the PCB’s decision, Shaheen Afridi expressed his gratitude and said, “It was an absolute honour to captain the Pakistan National Cricket Team. I will always cherish the memories and the opportunity.
As a team player, it is my duty to back our captain, Babar Azam. I have played under his captaincy and have nothing but respect for him. I will try to help him on and off the field. We are all one. Our aim is the same, to help Pakistan become the best team in the world.”
The PCB praised Babar Azam’s proven leadership skills and consistent performance, highlighting his notable achievements as a captain.
Under Babar’s leadership, Pakistan secured a historic victory against India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 and reached the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup, marking Pakistan’s first final in a World Cup since 2009.
Commenting on his reappointment as the white-ball captain, Babar Azam said, “It was a pleasure to play under Shaheen’s leadership in the recent T20I series.
He is still young and is improving as a player and as a leader every day. As a captain, I have always valued his input and I will keep consulting him for important decisions going forward. We must take advantage of his strategic understanding of the game. Our joint aim is to make this team the best in the world.”
The PCB also expressed their gratitude to Shaheen Afridi for his contributions as captain and assured that he will remain an integral part of Pakistan’s core leadership group.
The PCB concluded by stating, “We give our unequivocal support to both Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi as they embark on their respective roles, aiming to make Pakistan a top team in the world of cricket.” The board’s decision reflects their confidence in Babar Azam’s ability to inspire and unite the team towards achieving success on the global stage.
