LAHORE: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee Najam Sethi on Monday, put the uncertainty surrounding Babar Azam’s future as the Pakistan captain to rest.
Taking to Twitter, PCB management committee chair Sethi clarified the cricket board’s stance on continuing with Babar as the all-format captain and urged the media and cricketing circles to support the right-handed batter in interests of the national team.
“For months media and cricketing circles have been discussing pros and cons of retaining Babar Azam as captain in all formats of the game. Since this decision is ultimately Chairman’s, I have sought views of Selection Committees headed by Shahid Afridi and now Haroon Rashid.
1/3 For months media and cricketing circles have been discussing pros and cons of retaining Babar Azam as captain in all formats of the game. Since this decision is ultimately Chairman’s, I have sought views of Selection Committees headed by Shahid Afridi and now Haroon Rashid.
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) April 10, 2023
“Both Committees thought matter merited discussion but both later came to the conclusion that the status quo should be retained. I have subsequently publicly stated this position. In the final analysis my decision will be subject to the success or failure of status quo.
“I will also be guided by what the Selectors and Director Cricket Ops and Head Coach have to say going forward. I expect they will be in the best position to advise me. Therefore we should support Babar and not make matter controversial in interests of national team.
It is apropos to mention that rumours were surfacing on the internet regarding Babar’s captaincy being in jeopardy after he, alongside some senior players, was rested for the recently-held T20I series against Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Sethi, who held a press conference alongside chief selector Haroon Rasheed at Gaddafi Stadium here last month, refuted the rumours surfacing regarding a change in the team’s leadership and categorically stated that Babar will remain the national team’s all-format captain as long as he is willing to keep the role.
“There is no threat to our established captain Babar Azam. He remains the national captain of our Pakistan squad,” clarified Sethi.
“Whenever Babar tells me that he wants to relinquish the role in one format or in all formats, it is going to be his decision. I respect him a lot. He’s our top star and I’m glad that he supported our initiative,” he maintained.
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