Shaheen Shah Afridi’s one-series stint as Pakistan T20I captain is about to come back to an finish, with Babar Azam supplied 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 contemplate a return. Whereas no ODI captain was ever formally appointed when Babar reluctantly stepped down, Shan Masood is the present Check captain, having led the facet in a three-match sequence 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 resolution could be made after Pakistan’s coaching camp with the navy ended. But it surely seems there was a speedy lack of religion in Afridi’s management skills when he led Pakistan in a single sequence and his PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars. Pakistan misplaced the T20I sequence in opposition to New Zealand 4-1, and Qalandars received only one sport out of ten and completed backside of the PSL desk.
Nevertheless, Afridi will really feel laborious completed by, given Naqvi’s feedback that Pakistan wished a long-term captain they may again, fairly than knee-jerk appointments after a handful of video games, given that’s successfully exactly what has occurred to him. A part of the attraction of appointing Afridi, nonetheless solely 23, as captain was he might be taught on the job and proceed within the position for an prolonged time frame, and he was thought-about the favorite to tackle the ODI management as nicely.
And whereas Babar’s demand to be anointed Check captain just isn’t understood to be a deal-breaker, it does place vital strain on Masood’s place as red-ball skipper. He, too, has led the facet for only one sequence, with Pakistan dropping all three video games in Australia. Nevertheless, a extra aggressive method as captain was broadly seen as a contributing issue to Pakistan operating 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 by way of a number of chief selectors, in addition to choice committees with various levels of energy, for the reason that begin of 2023. Zaka Ashraf’s resolution 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 choices will likely be made by vote, with 4-3 majorities carrying the day.
As issues stand, Pakistan have been by way of negotiations with a number of candidates for the position of head coach with out with 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 presently understood to be in talks with Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten, with no signal of a breakthrough but.
Pakistan’s subsequent sequence, which Babar is anticipated to guide his facet out for as soon as extra, comes in opposition to New Zealand in April, with the 2 sides taking part in 5 T20Is.
