Babar Azam is expected to be appointed Pakistan’s captain for all three formats, extending his leadership role until the 2023 World Cup in India.
Earlier in the month, PCB Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi announced Babar as the designated captain for the New Zealand series. In recent interviews, Sethi offered conditional support for Babar, stating that as long as the team continues to win, the captaincy won’t change. The final decision will be made in consultation with Mickey Arthur.
Arthur recently visited Pakistan and endorsed Babar’s captaincy during a press conference when he was introduced as the team’s director. He believes Babar has the potential to guide the team in the right direction, eliminating the need for a change in leadership. Sethi has already agreed to Arthur’s recommendation.
Babar boasts a strong record as a limited-overs captain, although the team did not secure any home Test victories in 2022. Nevertheless, Arthur wants Babar to lead the team in July’s upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.
During a meeting, sources reveal that the discussion focused on potential replacements if Babar were to step down. However, with no suitable alternatives, it was decided that Babar would remain captain until the 2023 World Cup.
Arthur reportedly told Sethi during the meeting that the current Pakistan team has the potential to win the World Cup thanks to several match-winners. All they need is proper guidance from his coaching staff. Sethi has granted full authority to the team director, with all decisions to be made based on his recommendations. An official announcement regarding Babar’s captaincy in all three formats until the World Cup is expected in the coming days.
