“I want to congratulate Azhar Ali and Babar Azam for getting captaincy extensions,” Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s chief selector and head coach, said. “This is absolutely the right decision as they also require certainty and clarity on their future roles. I am sure they will now start looking to the future and start planning so that they can build sides that can perform at the expected levels.”

Long touted as the future of Pakistan cricket, Babar has been one of the world’s leading batsmen in the white-ball formats. He is yet to cement his place in the Test side, where he continues to find his feet, but with four centuries and a 97 in his last seven innings, recent returns have indicated an upward trajectory in his red-ball curve.

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The 25-year-old boasts an average of over 50 in both the shorter formats, a rare distinction in the modern-day game, and has often earned comparisons to Virat Kohli, who too averages 50-plus in white-ball cricket.

Babar was a part of the 2017 Champions Trophy, where his 133 runs at 44.33 played a part in vaulting Pakistan to the title in a stunning run as they beat rivals India in the final.