Babar Azam is set forth to enjoy a significant responsibility as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday named him as their nation’s new ODI captain. The 25-year-old replaced former skipper Sarafarz Ahmed. Babar will now lead Pakistan’s limited-overs side in the 2020-21 season.
Babar has experienced a spectacular rise to fame in the last 15 months, the same period during which the Lahore-born was handed the gear shifts of the T20I side.
PCB also confirmed through a media release that while Babar has been gratified with the new role, Azahar Ali will remain the captain of Pakistan’s Test side.
The Chief Selector and former captain of Pakistan Misbah-ul-Haq gave his views on the latest happenings and praised the decision of making Babar as the new leader of the nation’s ODI side.
“I want to congratulate Azhar Ali and Babar Azam for getting captaincy extensions. This is absolutely the right decision as they also require certainty and clarity on their future roles. I am sure they will now start looking to the future and start planning so that they can build sides that can perform at the expected levels,” National team chief selector and head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said.
Babar currently holds the No.3 spot in ICC’s ODI rankings for batsmen. He’s sitting just behind Indian captain Virat Kohli and ‘Hitman’ Rohit Sharma. Since his appointment in October last year, Babar has led Pakistan in five T20Is, winning the last two, at home against Bangladesh.
Speaking about the upcoming season, Pakistan are scheduled to play two T20Is in Ireland (July), three Tests and three T20Is in England (July-September), three ODIs and three T20Is in South Africa (October).
Similarly, Pakistan are supposed to play three ODIs and three T20Is at home against Zimbabwe (November), two tests and three T20Is in New Zealand (December), two Tests and three T20Is at home against South Africa (January 2021) and two Tests and three T20Is in Zimbabwe (April 2021).
