KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to sack Babar Azam as the captain from all formats after the team’s poor performance at the ICC World Cup in India, a private TV channel claimed on Tuesday.
According to the channel the cricket board’s decision would end Azam’s years-long stint in the leading position. The PCB took the decision after Pakistan failed to make it to the semi-finals in the ongoing World Cup. The green shirts have failed to show a good performance in all the three departments — batting, bowling, and fielding.
The sources told the TV channel that if Babar decides to tender resignation, the board would accept it, otherwise, he will be removed from the captaincy.
Shan Masood a strong candidate for captain’s slot
According to the sources Shan Masood is a strong candidate for the captain’s slot in the upcoming Test series against Australia while Shaheen Shah Afridi could also be named as captain for the T20I series in New Zealand.
The sources said that Shaheen might also lead the Pakistan cricket squad in next year’s T20 World Cup. Babar was appointed as captain in 2019 but the team have not won any ICC or Asia Cup titles under his captaincy.
Though the fans had high expectations from Pakistan team, they failed to prove their mettle in the tournament. After poor show of the team at the ICC World Cup, the team’s director Mickey Arthur had said that it’s not a crime to make mistakes.
Babar Azam is scheduled to hold a meeting with the PCB Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf later Wednesday that would decide his future as captain.
