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Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi (File Photo: Twitter)
In a recent piece of news, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced the new captains in T20Is and Tests. The decision from PCB came in the aftermath of Babar Azam’s resignation as a captain of the Pakistan Cricket Team across all formats. Babar Azam stepped down from his captaincy duties after the team’s dismal run in the ODI World Cup 2023, as they got knocked out from the league stage of the tournament after losing 5 out of the 9 matches in their matches in the tournament.
Shan Masood and Shaheen Afridi to succeed Babar Azam as captain in Tests and T20Is
PCB named the veteran batter Shan Masood as the Test captain, alongside the star pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new T20I skipper of the national men’s cricket team of Pakistan.
“Shan [Masood] 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 in Australia starting on 14 December,” reads an official statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board in a recent media release.
“Meanwhile, left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah 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. 23-year-old Shaheen has bagged 64 wickets in 52 T20Is. Shaheen has also captained Lahore Qalandars in HBL PSL and has helped the side win the tournament twice in two years in the 2022 and 2023 editions,” the statement adds further.
Presenting our captains 🇵🇰@shani_official has been appointed Test captain while @iShaheenAfridi will lead the T20I side. pic.twitter.com/wPSebUB60m
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 15, 2023
Here's a look at Babar Azam's resignation
Earlier, it was a very busy day for Pakistan cricket and Pakistan cricket fans as Babar Azam announced his resignation from his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
“Today, I am stepping down as the captain of Pakistan in all formats. It's a difficult decision but I feel it is the right time for this call,” wrote Babar Azam in his X-post.
“I will continue to represent Pakistan as a player in all three formats. I am here to support the new captain and the team with my experience and dedication,” he added later.
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) November 15, 2023