The Pakistan Cricket Board announced that Shaheen Shah
Afridi will take over as T20I captain and Shan Masood will be the Test captain
shortly after Babar Azam decided to step down from captaincy in all three
formats.
Appointments were announced soon after Babar stepped
down as Pakistan’s captain while a decision on the ODI captaincy will be made
in due course.
Shan Masood (34) has featured in 30 Tests, scoring
1,597 runs, which includes four centuries and seven half-centuries.
He has been appointed captain till the end of the ICC
World Test Championship 2023-25. Shan’s first assignment as captain will be a
three-match Test series against Australia starting on December 14.
Meanwhile, left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah (24) will lead
Pakistan Men’s Team in the T20I format and his first assignment as captain will
be the five-match T20I series in New Zealand from 12 to 21 January. He has
bagged 64 wickets in 52 T20Is.
Shaheen has also captained Lahore Qalandars in the
Pakistan Super League (PSL) and has helped the side win the tournament twice in
two years in the 2022 and 2023 editions.
“Shan and Shaheen were appointed captains after Babar
Azam today stepped down from all three formats of the game. Pakistan’s captain
in the ODI format will be announced in due course,” a statement from PCB read.
Shortly after Babar’s resignation, the PCB published a
statement noting that while Babar was given the option to stay as Test captain,
the decision to dismiss him as white-ball captain was presented to him as a
fait accompli.
After consultation with his family, Babar decided to
step down and PCB stands behind his decision.
PCB respects his decision and continues to support him
as a player.
“Babar Azam is truly a world-class player and we want
him to continue to thrive as a player. He is one of the best batters Pakistan
has ever produced. He is our asset, and we will continue to support him. His
batting prowess is a testament to his dedication and skill. He is a role model
for the present generation,” Chairman PCB Management Committee Zaka Ashraf said
in a official statement.
“We want to see him grow as a great batter and now
without his additional burden of the captaincy, he can focus more on his
performances to reach even greater heights. We respect his decision and will
continue to back him,” the statement further read.
ANI
