Lahore, March 31, 2024: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Babar Azam as the new captain of the Pakistan Men’s national Cricket team for white-ball cricket.
Babar Azam has previously led Pakistan in 43 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 71 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) from 2019 to 2023.
In a strategic move aimed at ensuring player welfare and optimizing performance, the PCB has revamped the leadership for white-ball cricket. Babar Azam, renowned for his exceptional batting prowess in international cricket, will assume the captaincy role from Shaheen Shah Afridi.
While Shaheen Afridi has unquestionably established himself as a standout fast bowler, spearheading Pakistan’s pace attack over the years, the PCB acknowledges the significance of rotation and rest in sustaining his peak performance. This decision aligns with the board’s commitment to safeguarding the players’ longevity, particularly fast bowlers who have faced injury challenges in recent years.
With workload management in mind, this decision aims to ensure that Pakistan’s main bowlers maintain their peak form. The PCB aims to prevent a recurrence of injury crises experienced before the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, where Shaheen Afridi required close monitoring, and the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023, where the team missed the services of Naseem Shah.
Shaheen Shah Afridi stated,
“It has been a great honor to lead the Pakistan National Cricket Team. I will always cherish the memories and the opportunity. As a team player, it is my responsibility to support our captain, Babar Azam. I have played under his leadership and have immense respect for him. I will offer my assistance both on and off the field. We are all united, striving towards the same goal of making Pakistan the best team in the world.”
Babar Azam remarked,
“It was a privilege to play under Shaheen’s captaincy in the recent T20 series. He is young and continues to improve as both a player and a leader every day. As captain, I highly value his insights, and I will continue to seek his input for crucial decisions moving forward. We must leverage his strategic understanding of the game. Our shared goal is to elevate this team to the pinnacle of world cricket.”
Babar Azam, with his demonstrated leadership skills and remarkable consistency, is well-suited to lead the team. His previous captaincy record speaks volumes. Under his leadership, Pakistan defeated India for the first time in a World Cup encounter during the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
In the 2022 T20 World Cup, he guided the team to the final, marking Pakistan’s first appearance in a World Cup final since 2009. His appointment as captain reflects the PCB’s confidence in his ability to inspire and unify the team towards success.
The PCB expresses gratitude to Shaheen Afridi for his contributions as captain and anticipates his continued success on the field. He will remain an integral part of Pakistan’s core leadership group. The PCB extends its unwavering support to both Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi as they embark on their respective roles, aiming to elevate Pakistan to the summit of international cricket.