The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday reinstated Babar Azam as the white-ball captain of the national team ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to be played in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA).
PCB officially announced Babar Azam’s appointment as captain on their social media accounts. “Babar Azam appointed as white-ball captain,” the PCB posted.
“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.”
His first assignment during his second tenure will be a five-match home T20I series against New Zealand, commencing on April 18 in Rawalpindi.
The star batter had previously led Pakistan in white-ball cricket from 2019 to 2023 before stepping down following the team’s dismal performance in the ICC World Cup 2023.
Pakistan failed to qualify for the semifinals as they finished fifth in the standings with eight points.
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After his resignation, PCB appointed Shan Masood as Test captain, while Shaheen Afridi was handed responsibility to lead the T20I side.
Afridi had an unwanted start to his captaincy reign, which started with a five-match away series against New Zealand in January this year.
Pakistan succumbed to a 4-1 series defeat and Shaheen’s future as a captain straightaway came under scrutiny.
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