Questions over Pakistan’s next T20I captain loom in the aftermath of their first ever group-stage elimination from the Men’s T20 World Cup.
On November 15, 2023, Babar Azam had resigned as Pakistan captain across all three formats. On March 31, 2024, two months before the T20 World Cup went underway, Pakistan reappointed him as captain across formats “following unanimous recommendation from the PCB’s selection committee”. Shaheen Shah Afridi, the interim T20I captain, had led Pakistan in only one series.
Babar Azam appointed as white-ball captain
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 31, 2024
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. pic.twitter.com/ad4KLJYRMK
Pakistan’s disappointing run at the T20 World Cup – they were eliminated at the group stage for the first time – drew considerable flak from former cricketers and media in the country. This may also result in them appointing a new captain from the following options.
Shadab Khan
Pakistan did not name a vice-captain for the World Cup, but Shadab has fulfilled that role for some time. Arguably the most important member of the Pakistan T20I side, Shadab was the winning captain and the Player of the Tournament in PSL 2024, and has done enough to merit a shot at the role.
Mohammad Rizwan
Yet another senior member of the side, Rizwan has never led Pakistan in limited-overs cricket, but he has excellent credentials as PSL captain: no one in the history of the league has a better win-loss ratio than his 2 (32 wins, 16 defeats). For perspective, Shadab is on 1.291.
Shaheen Shah Afridi
It will be borderline funny if Pakistan do indeed reappoint Shaheen three months after sacking him, but one must remember why they had put him in charge in the first place. In 2022, Shaheen had led the Lahore Qalandars to the PSL title, becoming the youngest captain to win a franchise league. In 2023, he helped them retain the title.
Retain Babar Azam
The most sensible way ahead. Sacking the captain is often an immediate reaction to a disappointing performance, but Pakistan have already gone from Babar to Shaheen to Babar in the span of four and a half months, and the last thing they need is another change of guard.
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