Shaheen Afridi out, Babar Azam returns as Pakistan T20I captain: Report | Cricket News

According to geo.tv, big changes are coming in Pakistan’s cricket world. Babar Azam is set to be reappointed as the T20I captain of the Pakistan cricket team as Shaheen Afridi’s tenure comes to an end. Sources told Pakistan website that Azam will captain Pakistan’s upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand starting on April 18. Babar Azam was earlier relieved of his duties as captain of the Pakistan cricket team after his disastrous performance in India’s ICC ODI World Cup last year.

Earlier, news agency PTI reported that sources at the PCB think tank said the board had concluded that Babar was the best option to lead the team again in the absence of viable options.

A source revealed: “Interestingly, with the change in board chairmanship, those in power appear to have lost faith in Shan Masood and Shaheen Shah Afridi’s ability to lead the national team in Test and T20 formats. .”

What is interesting is that Babar is now showing some attitude, the source added.

“Featherers have been sent to Babar to know if he is ready to take power again but he has shown some reservations. Apparently, he wants some assurances from the board chairman,” the source added.

Babar was relieved of captaincy in the white-ball format immediately after the World Cup when Zakhar Ashraf was the PCB president. Then he also chose to resign as captain of the red team.

Babar has been captain in various competitions since 2020, but poor performances in the Asia Cup and World Cup led to his dismissal.

“Shaheen was seen as the savior of Pakistan cricket as T20 captain during the Xhaka era as he won two finals for Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League. But now, with a change of guard, he seems to be He quickly fell out of favor among the boardroom,” another source said.

Not only did Shaheen lose his first series as captain in New Zealand (1-4), but Qalandars finished bottom of the PSL standings after returning this year.