Babar Azam was named the next white-ball captain of the Pakistan Men's national cricket team by the Pakistan Cricket Board on March 31, 2024.
Over the course of 2019 and 2023, Babar has already captained Pakistan in 43 ODIs and 71 T20Is.
In an attempt to guarantee player health and optimal output, the board reorganized the white-ball leadership. Babar, who is well-known for his outstanding batting record in international cricket, will succeed Shaheen Shah Afridi as captain.
The board understands that Shaheen Afridi needs to rotate and take breaks in order to continue performing at his best, even if he has unquestionably established himself as a top fast bowler and led Pakistan's pace attack throughout the years. This choice is in accordance with the board's dedication to preserving players' longevity, particularly fast bowlers who have seen rapid injury rates over the last two years.
This choice was made with workload management in mind, with the goal of keeping Pakistan's finest bowlers at the peak of their game. The board does not want the national men's team to experience an injury issue with regard to bowling resources, as was the case prior to the ICC T20 World Cup in 2022, when Shaheen required special attention, and the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup in 2023, when Naseem Shah was not on the team.
"It was an absolute honor to captain the Pakistan National Cricket Team," said Shaheen Shah Afridi. I will always be grateful for the experience and the memories. It is my responsibility as a team player to support Babar Azam, our captain. I have the utmost regard for him because I have played under his captaincy. My goal is to support him both on and off the field. We are all one. Our goal remains the same: to assist Pakistan in becoming the world's greatest squad.
Babar Azam is a strong candidate to lead the team due to his demonstrated ability to lead and his exceptional consistency. His track record as a captain speaks for itself. In the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, Pakistan defeated India in a World Cup match for the first time ever under his direction. He guided the group to the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup. Pakistan had not been in a World Cup final since 2009. The fact that PCB appointed him captain shows that they have faith in his abilities to motivate and rally the team to victory.
Babar Azam: “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.”
Babar Azam: "Playing in the most recent T20I series under Shaheen's direction was a pleasure. Even at his young age, he is becoming a better leader and player every day. I have always appreciated his advice as a captain, and I will continue to speak with him before making significant decisions in the future. We have to capitalize on his strategic grasp of the game. Making this team the greatest in the world is our shared goal.
Shaheen Afridi's achievements as captain are much appreciated by the Pakistan Cricket Board, which also wishes him well on the field. He will be a member of the core leadership team of Pakistan. We firmly believe that Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi will succeed in their new responsibilities and elevate Pakistan's cricket squad to the highest level.
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