LAHORE (APP): Babar Azam has decided to step down as all-format captain of the Pakistan Men’s cricket team in the aftermath of the poor performance of team in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India under his command.
According to a PCB press release on Wednesday, Babar Azam was offered to continue as Test team captain by the Chairman PCB’s Management Committee to which the maestro batter declined and expressed his desire to continue to serve as a batter in all formats for the team.
The PCB press release said, “PCB Chairman Management Committee Zaka Ashraf and Babar Azam met at the PCB headquarters in Lahore today and had a cordial meeting to discuss various aspects and the World Cup performance. Babar was asked to continue as Test captain, while he has been relieved of captaincy in white-ball cricket for him to focus on one format. After consultation with his family, Babar decided to step down and PCB stands behind his decision.”
PCB respects his decision and continues to support him as a player. Chairman PCB Management Committee Zaka Ashraf said: “Babar Azam is truly a world-class player and we want him to continue to thrive as a player.
He is one of the best batters Pakistan has ever produced. He is our asset, and we will continue to support him. His batting prowess is a testament to his dedication and skill. He is a role model for the present generation.
“We want to see him grow as a great batter and now without his additional burden of the captaincy, he can focus more on his performances to reach even greater heights. We respect his decision and will continue to back him.” Babar has featured in 49 Tests and scored 3,772 runs which includes nine centuries and 26 half-centuries.
Similarly, the PCB has also decided to appoint new coaching staff for the upcoming test and T20I series in Australia and New Zealand. The PCB further said, “The PCB has changed the portfolio of the entire coaching staff including Director Cricket Mickey Arthur. All coaches will continue to work in National Cricket Academy while PCB will announce the new coaching staff in due course for the upcoming series in Australia and New Zealand.”
Shan Masood, Shaheen Shah Afridi appointed test, T20I captains
LAHORE: The PCB has appointed Shan Masood as the Test captain of Pakistan Men’s Cricket Team, while Shaheen Shah Afridi has been named T20I captain.
34-year-old Shan has featured in 30 Tests, scoring 1,597 runs, which includes four centuries and seven half-centuries. Shan has been appointed captain till the end of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25. Shan’s first assignment as captain will be a three-match Test series against Australia in Australia starting from 14 December.
Meanwhile, left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah will lead Pakistan Men’s Team in the T20I format and his first assignment as captain will be the five-match T20I series in New Zealand from 12 to 21 January. 23-year-old Shaheen has bagged 64 wickets in 52 T20Is. Shaheen has also captained Lahore Qalandars in HBL PSL and has helped the side win the tournament twice in two years in the 2022 and 2023 editions.
Shan and Shaheen were appointed captains after Babar Azam today stepped down from all three formats of the game. Pakistan’s captain in the ODI format will be announced in due course.
Hafeez replaces Mickey Arthur as Director Men’s cricket team
LAHORE: The PCB on Wednesday appointed former test captain Mohammad Hafeez as Director of the Pakistan Men’s cricket team replacing Mickey Arthur who is likely to be reassigned some coaching role at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
The change has come in the aftermath of the poor performance of the Pakistan cricket team in the ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 in India where the team won four matches out of nine and finished fifth on the points table. Captain Babar Azam has already stepped down as all-format captain of the team while the PCB has decided to change portfolios of the coaching staff which will work at the NCA.
Mohammad Hafeez has featured for Pakistan in 55 Tests, 218 ODIs and 119 T20Is and has scored 12,780 runs and has taken 253 wickets. Mohammad Hafeez recently served on the PCB Cricket Technical Committee. The former all-rounder was part of Pakistan Men’s team which won the ICC Champions Trophy in England in 2017. The PCB will announce the new coaching staff for the upcoming series in Australia and New Zealand in due course.
