Babar Azam resigned from his position as the white-ball captain of Pakistan, however, now there is only one question on everyone’s mind — Who will become the new captain?
Well, to be honest, there are not many options in Pakistan, who can seamlessly transition into the role. However, insider reports suggest that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering the idea of appointing different captains for ODI and T20I teams.
The Shift in Leadership
With Babar Azam out of the picture, the PCB is now looking for fresh leadership to guide the national team in the shorter formats.
Mohammad Rizwan was long considered as Pakistan’s future captain across three formats. However, the twist in the tale is that Rizwan is the front-runner for the ODI captaincy only. Rizwan’s calm demeanour and rapport within the team make him a favorite for the captaincy in ODI cricket.
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However, the situation in T20I cricket is different as Rizwan is often criticized for his slow approach. Reports suggest that the PCB is considering young wicket-keeper Mohammad Haris for the role of T20I captain. It is evident that PCB has faith in him, considering the fact that he has been a regular captain of Pakistan Shaheens for the past year.
Gary Kirsten’s Vision
Word on the street is that Gary Kirsten, Pakistan’s head coach for white-ball cricket, suggested that Babar Azam should be relieved of his T20I captaincy duties after the T20 World Cup to let him focus fully on ODIs.
However, Babar wasn’t thrilled about the idea and resigned from the captaincy of both formats, opening the door for a new leader. And that’s where Mohammad Haris comes in.
Kirsten is said to be a huge fan of Haris, seeing him as the future of Pakistan’s T20 team. Haris has shown real potential in the shorter format. His aggressive and fearless approach fits right into the direction Kirsten wants to take the team.
Haris is seen as someone who can inject fresh energy and lead Pakistan with a new mindset as they build toward the 2026 T20 World Cup.
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Signs of Change
The writing was on the wall when Babar wasn’t named captain for any team in the Champions One-Day Cup. Instead, he played under the leadership of Mohammad Haris in the Stallions team.
Pakistan is set to tour Australia in November for three ODIs and three T20s. The new captain will be announced before the tour, most probably around the end of October. With Rizwan’s experience and Haris’ potential, Pakistan seems to be ready for a new chapter.
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