Babar Azam‘s role has been the subject of some discussion, but PCB chairman Najam Sethi has backed him as Pakistan’s all-format captain for the time being.
In his first remarks made in public, Sethi tweeted that everyone “should support Babar and not make matters controversial in the interests of the national team” in reference to the ongoing source of instability for the Pakistani team under his leadership.
Sethi said in his tweets that he had examined the “pros and cons” of benching the Pakistan captain and that he would be “guided by the selectors and head coach,” thus he did not fully support the skipper.
“For months media and cricketing circles have been discussing pros and cons of retaining Babar Azam as captain in all formats of the game,”
Sethi said.
“Since this decision is ultimately Chairman’s, I have sought views of Selection Committees headed by Shahid Afridi and now Haroon Rashid. 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 the 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 matters controversial in the interests of the national team.”
Since Ramiz Raja was replaced as chairman by Sethi, the PCB has been examining team composition. After two unsuccessful home seasons, the PCB is considering removing Babar’s all-format captaincy, as reporters stated in January. Pakistan lost 3-0 in Tests and 4-3 in T20Is against England during the 2022–23 domestic season.
They also drew 0-0 in a Test series and went down 2-1 to New Zealand in an ODI series. However, they did better abroad, taking home a T20I tri-series victory in New Zealand and making it all the way to the T20 World Cup final in Australia.
Shan Masood was appointed vice-captain in ODIs by the PCB when Sethi took office, which came as a surprise. Shan had only played five ODIs up to that point, with the most recent one occurring in 2019.
Because Babar insisted he would have the final say in selection decisions, at the time that was seen to provoke internal conflict. The third game, where he was disqualified for 0 score, was his last appearance. The new vice-captain missed the first two games.
Babar, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Afridi were among the key players Pakistan rested for a recent T20I series against Afghanistan. The official assistant captain, Shadab Khan, took over as captain, although Pakistan went on to lose the series 2-1.
The seniors have rejoined the team as a white-ball series against New Zealand approaches, and Babar has assumed the captaincy once more.