Producer: Peuli Bakshi
The PCB decided to replace Shaheen Shah Afridi with Babar Azam as the T20I captain, due to Pakistan's 1-4 series defeat to New Zealand under his captaincy.
“Following unanimous recommendation from the PCB’s selection committee, Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi has appointed Babar Azam as white-ball (ODI and T20I) captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team,” PCB said on X.
It has been reported that Shaheen Afridi wasn’t kept in the loop when PCB was discussing about replacing him as the T20I captain.
“Shaheen is rightly upset as...he expected that even if the board/selectors wanted to remove him they have the decency to also inform him for the reasons behind this,” a source was quoted as saying by PTI.
The 23-year-old left-arm pacer was made the captain after his success with Lahore Qalandars as he captained them to two successive Pakistan Super League titles.
Babar previously resigned as Pakistan's captain after the team was eliminated from the ODI World Cup semi-finals, amid criticism for his performance and leadership.
Upon his return, Babar will only lead in the ODI and T20I formats, while Shan Masood continues as the Test team captain.
Babar has been one of the most successful T20I captains, with a record of 42 wins in 71 matches and thus, PCB has shown confidence in his leadership once again.