Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief, Najam Sethi disclosed that Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam’s captaincy role in all formats of the game could be reduced in the future, as Pakistan is set to host New Zealand for the limited-overs format fixture.
While Sethi in a recent statement also revealed that he met the Pakistan team’s consultant, Mickey Arthur before announcing the Pakistani ace batter as a captain for the upcoming T20I series.
Najam Sethi indicates Mickey Arthur will decide PAK Skipper Babar Azam’s role-
“I asked Mickey Arthur, do you want one captain or two captains for the New Zealand series? After consulting with him, we decided on having one captain for the white-ball format. I told him, when you will come, you can sit with Babar and then decide from there onwards” said PCB Chief.
While the news comes as a surprise because Sethi personally informed Babar of his participation during their one-on-one encounter just a few days earlier. The cause for the prospective removal of Babar’s captaincy is unknown, and no official comment from the PCB or any other relevant parties has been issued.
It will be interesting to observe how this development affects the team’s performance and dynamic, especially with the Asia Cup and ODI World Cup 2023 in the latter part of this year.
Riveting battle in the nets! ?
Watch star duo @babarazam258 and @iMRizwanPak face the pace trio of @iShaheenAfridi, @iNaseemShah and @iFaheemAshraf ?#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/UGOvBJXec1
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 9, 2023
Earlier, former Pakistani wicketkeeper batter, Rashid Latif said there can be a potential tiff between Imad Wasim and Babar Azam, the left-handed all-rounder missed out on a spot in the Pakistan ODI squad for the upcoming New Zealand series allegedly due to captain Babar Azam.
Pakistan Squads:
T20I: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Zaman Khan
ODI: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Ihsanullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Usama Mir.
Reserves: Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed and Tayyab Tahir
PAK v NZ Series schedule:
14 Apr – 1st T20I, Lahore
15 Apr – 2nd T20I, Lahore
17 Apr – 3rd T20I, Lahore
20 Apr – 4th T20I, Rawalpindi
24 Apr – 5th T20I, Rawalpindi
27 Apr – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi
29 Apr – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi
3 May – 3rd ODI, Karachi
5 May – 4th ODI, Karachi
7 May – 5th ODI, Karachi