After a topsy-turvy run at the recent Asia Cup, where Pakistan finished runners-up to arch-rivals India, ace batter Babar Azam might find a place again in the T20I setup, with the current team not showing a lot of promise with the bat. Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan can be sacked as ODI captain.
With a three-match ODI and T20I series against South Africa all set to follow the Test series ending October 24, the race is on across social and mainstream media to spotlight senior players.
A source close to the national selectors dismissed rumours of Rizwan being replaced as ODI skipper, adding that even if a change occurs, there is no logic in appointing Shaheen Shah Afridi as his successor.
“If anything, it would be the national T20 skipper, Salman Ali
Agha, who will replace Rizwan as captain, but even that doesn’t seem to be happening anytime soon,” a source was quoted as saying by PTI.
Regarding the rumours of changes in the national T20I side ahead of next year’s World Cup, the source confirmed that discussions are ongoing between the selectors and team management, with the board chairman’s advisors involved as well.
“There is a move to recall Babar to the shortest format, but the truth is there is more resistance to this idea than acceptance,” the source said.
The source added that head coach Mike Hesson seemed confident and satisfied that, with a few adjustments, he has the cricketers needed to build a balanced and competitive side for the World Cup.
The source noted that there was consensus to rest certain cricketers for the South Africa series, permitting selectors to test new, younger players in the T20I team and experiment with fresh combinations.
“Any decision on Babar’s recall will come after he plays in the Big Bash and the selectors get an idea whether he is prepared to reinvent himself in the format because he was sidelined, not because he isn’t a good enough player, but only he wasn’t able to keep pace with the requirements of modern-day T20s,” the source said.
