Babar Azam might soon lose his position as the national team’s white-ball captain, with Mohammad Rizwan being considered a strong candidate to take over the role across all formats. According to a report by a Paksitani channel, Rizwan has emerged as the favorite for the captaincy position, while Babar’s absence from a leadership role during the Champions One-Day Cup has fueled speculation about his future as captain.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently announced the captains for five teams in the domestic tournament, with Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Haris, and Saud Shakeel being chosen to lead the respective squads. The report further claims that Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, Gary Kirsten, had already discussed the captaincy issue with PCB officials and Babar Azam in July. Rizwan is reportedly being considered as the captain for all three formats of the game.
Despite stepping down after Pakistan’s disappointing campaign in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Babar Azam was reappointed as the limited-overs captain on March 31. However, his return to the role has not been fruitful. Pakistan’s performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, held in the West Indies and the USA, was lackluster, with the team failing to reach the knockout stages despite having a strong squad.
Adding to their woes, Pakistan’s Test team suffered a clean-sweep defeat against Bangladesh at home. Babar Azam’s batting form has also come under scrutiny, with the star player experiencing a significant decline in performance.
As Pakistan endures one of its most challenging periods in recent cricket history, there is increasing pressure on both the players and the cricket board. Officials are expected to make significant changes to revive the team’s performance and return to their best levels.
