The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to remove Babar Azam as the captain across all cricket formats, marking the end of his years-long leadership tenure.
The decision follows Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ongoing World Cup, where they failed to advance to the semi-finals, struggling in batting, bowling, and fielding.
Sources indicate that if Babar Azam chooses to resign, PCB will accept his resignation; otherwise, the board is prepared to remove him from his captaincy role. Shan Masood is considered a likely candidate for the captaincy in the upcoming Test series against Australia.
At the same time, Shaheen Shah Afridi is a strong contender for leading the team in the T20I series in New Zealand. Furthermore, Shaheen Shah Afridi may also captain the Green Shirts in next year’s T20 World Cup.
Babar Azam was appointed white-ball captain in 2019 and the Test skipper in 2021. The team has not secured ICC or Asia Cup titles despite his leadership. Entering the World Cup as a top-ranked team, Pakistan failed to demonstrate their prowess, exiting the tournament in the group stage. Amidst these developments, team director Mickey Arthur supported Babar, emphasizing that making mistakes is not a crime.
A meeting between Babar and PCB Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf is scheduled, with an expected announcement regarding his captaincy.
