Pakistan captain Babar Azam replaces fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi as the T20 captain. File
| Photo Credit: AP

Former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam was on March 31 reappointed as the white-ball captain, two months ahead of the T20 World Cup.

The decision was taken after a unanimous recommendation from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) selection committee.

“Following unanimous recommendation from the PCB’s selection committee, Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi has appointed Babar Azam as white-ball (ODI and T20I) captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team,” the PCB said in a media release.

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Babar had stepped down as captain from all three formats for Pakistan after a disappointing outing at the ODI World Cup in India in November last year.

Babar had relinquished his role after the then PCB chief Zaka Ashraf told him he would no longer be captain in white-ball formats and would only lead the Test team.

Babar replaces fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi as the T20 captain, who led Pakistan in the 1-4 series loss against New Zealand in January.

The T20 World Cup will begin from June 1 in the USA and the West Indies.

Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam speaks during a press conference on the eve of their Asia Cup cricket match against Nepal at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on August 29, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Pakistan captain Babar Azam doesn’t want to make a hue and cry about the hybrid model of hosting the Asia Cup but said it would have been nice to have hosted the marquee tournament in his country in its entirety.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have hosting rights for the Asia Cup but the Asian Cricket Council headed by Jay Shah opted for the hybrid model where Sri Lanka became the co-hosts after it was clear that the Indian cricket team won’t travel to Pakistan.

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“If you ask me, it would have been good if the whole tournament would have been held in Pakistan, but unfortunately, nothing can be done about it,” Babar said at the pre-tournament media conference ahead of the opening match against minnows Nepal.

Pakistan start their campaign on Wednesday against Nepal in Multan and then fly to Sri Lanka the very next day for the big-ticket clash against India at Pallekele on September 2. Within 24 hours, they are back in Lahore for their Super Four game on September 6 and then again fly back to Sri Lanka the next day for the next game on September 9.

“As professionals, we are ready for any schedule that is given to us. There would be travelling as well as back-to-back games and we are ready for that,” said Babar.

“Our coaches and support staff have chalked out plans about how much we would utilise each player and also we have booked our flights in such a manner, that our travelling schedule gives enough time to rest,” the skipper said.

While he didn’t want to divulge his strategy about the India game, he expects that his team would put up the best show possible.

“We want to continue with this momentum. Pakistan’s match against India will be a high-intensity game and we want to play our best cricket on the given day,” he added.

The skipper, rated as one of the premier batters in contemporary cricket, is happy that Pakistan team is currently ranked No. 1 in ODIs and also a lot of their players are in top-10.

“I needed to take the team to a different level and change mindset. Now, we have at least 3-4 players in top-10 and when you set a standard, there will be expectations and you have to fulfil those expectations. Performances should be such that the team wins,” he added.