Babar Azam Reportedly Set to Lose White-Ball Captaincy
The Pakistan Cricket Board is reportedly set to replace Babar Azam as the captain of the national team's white-ball formats. This is not a surprise, as Azam has been under intense scrutiny for some time now. Azam's captaincy has been plagued by a series of poor performances, including a dismal run in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. However, it is a setback for Azam, who has been a popular figure in Pakistan cricket. The Pakistan Cricket Board is reportedly considering a change in leadership, with Mohammad Rizwan as a potential new captain in white-ball cricket. Rizwan has been a top performer, and his leadership capabilities are under review. If selected, he could take on captaincy duties across all formats.
Mohammad Rizwan has been a top performer for Pakistan for several years. In the recent Test series against Australia, he was the team's leading batsman with 294 runs. The Pakistan Cricket Board is reportedly considering him for the captaincy in all formats. He is a strong candidate, and his appointment would be a popular one with fans.
Pakistan's white-ball head coach, Gary Kirsten, is reportedly a fan of Mohammad Rizwan's leadership skills. He has recommended Rizwan as captain to the Pakistan Cricket Board. If Rizwan is selected, he could take on captaincy duties across all formats, including the Test format, which he has not played in since 2019.
Babar Azam's recent performances have added to the speculation about his future as captain of Pakistan's white-ball team. In the recent Test series against Bangladesh, he managed only 22 runs in one innings and 31 and 11 in the other Test. His underwhelming form in Test cricket has fueled speculation that he may be replaced as captain of the white-ball team. If he is replaced, it would be a major setback for Azam, who has been a key player for Pakistan for several years. It would also be a major embarrassment for the Pakistan Cricket Board, which appointed Azam as captain in 2019.
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league in Pakistan. It was founded in 2015 and has six teams: the Karachi Kings, the Lahore Qalandars, the Multan Sultans, the Peshawar Zalmi, the Quetta Gladiators, and the Islamabad United. The PSL is the highest level of domestic cricket in Pakistan, and its matches are broadcast live on television. The 2023 season will feature five new teams: the Dolphins, the Lions, the Panthers, the Stallions, and the Wolves. The Dolphins will be led by Test vice-captain Saud Shakeel, the Lions by Shaheen Shah Afridi, the Panthers by Shadab Khan, the Stallions by Mohammad Haris, and the Wolves will be led by Rizwan.
Babar Azam's poor form has resulted in his ICC Test ranking dropping to 12th in the new standings. Azam has been under intense scrutiny for some time now, and this latest setback is a major embarrassment for the Pakistan Cricket Board, which appointed him as captain in 2019. The board has been accused of favoritism in its handling of Azam, and his performance has done little to dispel those accusations.
