Najam Sethi, chairman of the PCB management committee, assured Babar Azam today that he will captain Pakistan in the upcoming limited-overs series against New Zealand. Sethi took to Twitter to put an end to recent media speculation about the captaincy and selection of specific players.
“Babar Azam came to see me today. I told him he will lead the ODI and T20I national team against New Zealand. And then @TheRealPCB announced the squads. So all those who were spreading fake fears are out of jobs today,” Sethi wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
This means that after being rested in the Afghanistan series, Babar will resume his normal services as captain in the ODI and T20I series against New Zealand. Shadab will return to his original position as vice-captain after leading the team against Afghanistan. The squad will meet in Lahore on April 6, and the training camp will begin on April 7.
Najam Sethi previously stated that Babar can remain the national captain until he decides to step down. After Sarfaraz Ahmed stepped down as captain of Pakistan in all three formats, the 28-year-old Babar took over.
“There is no threat. Our established skipper Babar will remain the captain of our national squad until he himself decides whether he wants to leave the captaincy of any one format or all three formats or he wants to remain the captain in all. It will totally be his call,” Sethi was quoted as saying.
“I respect Babar a lot; he is our top star. I am very happy that he supported our decision to try youngsters against Afghanistan,” he added.
Squads for Pakistan vs New Zealand series:
T20I: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Zaman Khan
ODI: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Ihsanullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Usama Mir
Here is how Twitter reacted
How would u feel if u went to see PM before every series and he tells u that u will remain the chairman for the upcoming series?
Captain should not have to come to u or anyone before every series for this, make him Captain till the WC atleast
— Khusro Khan (@KhusroKhan) April 5, 2023
Such a insecure guy Babar. Really he had to visit you to secure his captaincy. OMG ?
— Baba Jarkhandi (@KirkitLover) April 4, 2023
Sethi Saab ek accha leader nahi he Pakistan me ?
— Baba Jarkhandi (@KirkitLover) April 4, 2023
Babar needing reaffirmation about his captaincy right before squad annoucement and being given assrance for one series is actually a problem!
— altamish jiwa (@altamishjiwa) April 4, 2023
You should clear him that he will lead team till Worldcup atleast. Such rumours spreading before & after each series should be cleared once.
— Muzzammal Sultan Kahloon (@muzzammalsultan) April 4, 2023
King ko agr wo izzat milegi jo wo deserve krta hain to phr obviously aapko b izzat milegi r phr hum aapko budha ni boleingy blk Old man boliengy??
Shehzada Babar???— i_m_nimra? (@Babarian_BA56) April 4, 2023
Isn’t this national selectors job? Please avoid doing micro management like @iramizraja did, it’s not going to help Pakistan cricket in long run. Babar is probably right choice for Whitehall leadership, but it’s not your job to choose captains (you are Chairman PCB)
— Tauseef Satti (@TazzSatti) April 4, 2023
Wow so now you take the decision that if Babar leads or not lol, Babar has earned this spot you are nobody to take credit here.
— Jalal G Karim (@Jkarim23) April 4, 2023
Keep them jobless till World Cup 2023.
— Zeeshan Qayyum (@XeeshanQayyum) April 4, 2023
Like any other country we must have announce Captain till World Cup 2023
Not just series by series— Abdul Ghaffar (@GhaffarDawnNews) April 4, 2023
