Pakistan's Next White-Ball Captain: Three Players Who Can Succeed Babar Azam as Pakistan Cricket Team Skipper in ODIs and T20Is
Post Babar Azam's resignation as Pakistan's white-ball captain, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is on the lookout for a suitable replacement, with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and ICC T20 World 2026 closing in. Here's a glance into the top three contenders to replace Azam as Pakistan's white-ball skipper.
Since the ICC World Cup 2023, Pakistan's white-ball cricket has been on the decline, with multiple captains being appointed and swapped after series, which culminated in Babar Azam leading the nation in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, where they failed to qualify past the first round. Despite the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) new chairman Mohsin Naqvi's approval of Azam until ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the latter's sudden resignation has posed concerns for head coach Gary Kirsten and Co. Babar Azam Quits Pakistan’s Cricket Team’s ODI and T20I Captaincy, Says ‘Time for Me To Step Down and Focus on My Playing Role’.
However, all is not lost for the PCB, and with a deeper dive into the dynamics of Pakistan cricket, few candidates have emerged for the post of white-ball captain. Here's a glance into the top three contenders to replace Azam as Pakistan's white-ball skipper. Zaheer Abbas Feels Comparing Virat Kohli and Babar Azam Is Baseless, Says ‘Indian Star Way Ahead of Under-Fire Pakistan Batter’.
Shadab Khan
Enjoying an excellent year as leader, Shadab has moved up the ranks in Pakistan cricket as the top-most prospect for the white-ball captaincy role, having won both the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 with Islamabad United, and the recently concluded Champions Cup with Panthers. Shadab's utility in white-ball format cannot be unseen, as the player apart from being an all-rounder is also a gun fielder.
Mohammed Rizwan
One of Babar's most trusted deputies, Rizwan has been Pakistan's all-format crisis player and has put his foot forward whenever the team requires. Rizwan has often showcased his sharp mind and insight behind the stumps, which adds to his leadership skills having tasted success in PSL with Multan Sultans in 2021. Babar Azam Funny Memes Go Viral After Pakistan Cricket Star’s Dismissal for Low Score During PAK vs ENG 1st Test 2024.
Fakhar Zaman
As a batter, no other batter in Pakistan is as explosive as Fakhar Zaman, who singlehandedly can overturn any match on its head. Zaman, 34, still has a few more years left in him and is regular across both One-Day Internationals (ODI) and T20 Internationals (T20I), which will provide consistency in decision-making, that has lacked in Pakistan cricket in white-ball formats.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 07, 2024 09:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).