Babar Azam Set to Lose Pakistan Captaincy After Disappointing T20 World Cup Performance

Islamabad, September 7: Babar Azam, the once-revered captain of the Pakistan cricket team, is expected to lose his captaincy following Pakistan's dismal performance in the T20 World Cup. Azam had previously led the team during the ODI World Cup but was stripped of his role after the team’s poor showing. While he was reinstated as captain for the T20 World Cup, Pakistan's loss to the USA and their early exit from the tournament has put his leadership under scrutiny once again.

Reports from Pakistani media suggest that Babar Azam will likely be replaced as captain ahead of the upcoming series against Australia. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan as a strong contender for the captaincy. Rizwan has previously led teams in the Pakistan Super League and Champions Cup, making him a favored candidate to take over the leadership role.

Earlier, during the 2023 ODI World Cup, Pakistan's underwhelming performance led to Azam being removed from his role as ODI captain. Shaheen Afridi was appointed as the captain for the T20 team, while Shan Masood took over the Test side. However, under Shaheen’s leadership, Pakistan lost a T20 series 4-1 to New Zealand, raising doubts about his capabilities. As a result, Babar was reappointed for the T20 World Cup.

Babar Azam’s tenure as captain includes leading Pakistan in 147 matches, winning 83 and losing 50, while four matches ended in a draw and two were tied. Despite these impressive stats, Pakistan has yet to secure an ICC trophy under his leadership, prompting the PCB to consider a leadership change before the upcoming Champions Trophy.

Mohammad Rizwan, with his experience and steady performance, now stands as the frontrunner to lead Pakistan in the near future. The PCB is expected to finalize the captaincy decision before the Australia serie