Shaheen Shah Afridi’s one-series stint as Pakistan T20I captain is set to come to an finish, with Babar Azam provided the white-ball captaincy as soon as extra. The PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Babar earlier this week to make the supply.
Babar, for his half, has not but accepted the supply. The choice to strip him of the armband in all three codecs following Pakistan’s poor 2023 ODI World Cup marketing campaign rankled him, and he has requested the PCB to be appointed captain throughout all three codecs if he’s to think about a return. Whereas no ODI captain was ever formally appointed when Babar reluctantly stepped down, Shan Masood is the present Take a look at captain, having led the facet in a three-match collection in Australia.
The writing was on the wall for Afridi since Naqvi refused to again him at a press convention in Lahore on Sunday, saying on the time a remaining determination could be made after Pakistan’s coaching camp with the navy ended. But it surely seems there was a fast lack of religion in Afridi’s management talents when he led Pakistan in a single collection and his PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars. Pakistan misplaced the T20I collection in opposition to New Zealand 4-1, and Qalandars received only one recreation out of ten and completed backside of the PSL desk.
Nevertheless, Afridi will really feel onerous finished by, given Naqvi’s feedback that Pakistan wished a long-term captain they may again, moderately than knee-jerk appointments after a handful of video games, given that’s successfully exactly what has occurred to him. A part of the enchantment of appointing Afridi, nonetheless solely 23, as captain was he might study on the job and proceed within the role for an prolonged time frame, and he was thought of the favorite to tackle the ODI management as effectively.
And whereas Babar’s demand to be anointed Take a look at captain isn’t understood to be a deal-breaker, it does place vital stress on Masood’s place as red-ball skipper. He, too, has led the facet for only one collection, with Pakistan shedding all three video games in Australia. Nevertheless, a extra aggressive method as captain was extensively seen as a contributing issue to Pakistan working the hosts shut in two of the three Checks regardless of accidents rendering the bowling assault weakened.
The flip-flopping surrounding the captaincy query strikes on the coronary heart of the PCB’s state of proceedings over the previous 18 months. They’ve been via a number of chief selectors, as effectively as choice committees with various levels of energy, because the begin of 2023. Zaka Ashraf’s determination to sack Mickey Arthur and Grant Bradburn, and twist Babar’s arm into resigning simply earlier than a key tour of Australia was the best profile one, however in reality, the chaos has been effervescent for longer than that.
The present choice committee’s association can also be pretty distinct. There are 4 selectors – Wahab Riaz, Asad Shafiq, Abdul Razzaq and Mohammad Yousuf – with no chief selector. They are going to be joined by the Pakistan captain and coach – each but to be appointed – and an information analyst. Choice selections will probably be made by vote, with 4-3 majorities carrying the day.
As issues stand, Pakistan have been via negotiations with a number of candidates for the role of head coach with out having the ability to attain a deal. Shane Watson, Mike Hesson and Adam Voges are amongst those that ultimately turned them down, whereas initially promising discussions with Luke Ronchi have additionally meted away. The PCB is at present understood to be in talks with Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten, with no signal of a breakthrough but.
Pakistan’s subsequent collection, which Babar is predicted to lead his facet out for as soon as extra, comes in opposition to New Zealand in April, with the 2 sides enjoying 5 T20Is.
