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Babar likely to replace Azhar as Test skipper

Abdul Ghaffar Published November 10, 2020
As per the sources, the PCB has decided to replace Azhar Ali with prolific batsman Babar Azam who is already leading the national side in ODIs and T20s — AFP/File
As per the sources, the PCB has decided to replace Azhar Ali with prolific batsman Babar Azam who is already leading the national side in ODIs and T20s — AFP/File

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani and CEO Wasim Khan will meet senior batsman Azhar Ali on Tuesday (today) in Lahore to officially convey to him about the decision of his removal as Test captain, reliable sources in the Board said on Monday.

As per the sources, the PCB has decided to replace Azhar with prolific batsman Babar Azam who is already leading the national side in ODIs and T20s. The sources said Azhar’s Test captaincy was under review after his ordinary show in Australia and England — the two Test series that Pakistan lost — and the PCB is not satisfied with his performance as Test captain.

The sources further said that Mani assured Babar of full support from the PCB in all three formats and it is likely that Babar will continue to lead Pakistan in the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board is yet to take a final decision on vice-captain for Test format and wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan and opening batsman Shan Masood are both in contention for the slot.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2020

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Comments (13) Closed
Pak-UK
Nov 10, 2020 11:06am
There could not be any other candidate anyway as he must justify his place in test side first. There is a lot of work required for test side.
Recommend 0
Khurram
Nov 10, 2020 11:10am
Azhar was never the right choice, he is timid/ introvert and defensive but having said that he has been groomed under Misbah therefore till we remove him as a coach this mind-set will remain to haunt us
Recommend 0
Rahim
Nov 10, 2020 11:58am
Emperor Babar will make a great captain. England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are tough nations to tour. It can break any captain. Emperor should be handled with care. He is still finding his way into the test arena.
Recommend 0
Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad
Nov 10, 2020 01:01pm
Replacing Azhar Ali, who is doing fine as greenshirts test team skipper, will be yet another grave and grim mistake of the hand-picked, unelected and self-appointed "movers and shakers" of PCB.
Recommend 0
Adnan Saqib
Nov 10, 2020 01:09pm
PCB, here going wrong to nominate Babar Azam as test captain. Babar Azam needs more time to polish his skills. If PCB does so then I fear that the performance of a young chap affects the team. Can he survive under pressure what will happen next.....
Recommend 0
Nasir S.
Nov 10, 2020 01:18pm
Does not make sense to overload Babar with so much so quickly. And if he does not change results, then what. I think Azhar needs to carry on and let Babr develop. I hope this does not cause Babar a drop in performance. Every decision from this new regime has been wrong and needed change within a year.
Recommend 0
Mike
Nov 10, 2020 01:32pm
Thank you!
Recommend 0
Sarfaraz
Nov 10, 2020 02:01pm
Azhar should remain for a year and if he doesn’t do well then can be replaced by Babar. This will allow for Babar to get more experience too.
Recommend 0
Pakistani in New Zealand
Nov 10, 2020 03:49pm
A wise decision. Babar Azam is the right person for the job in the current Pakistan team. I would say about time.
Recommend 0
Khan_Adil
Nov 10, 2020 03:51pm
Good Move! Now it will be proven that Babar Azam is equal or better than Kohli
Recommend 0
Jonathan
Nov 10, 2020 04:50pm
Blunder after blunder, another hallmark of Misbah!
Recommend 0
Zain
Nov 10, 2020 06:29pm
Shan Masood would have been a better replacement for Azhar Ali. Well, never mind!
Recommend 0
Desi
Nov 10, 2020 08:50pm
This is how PCB destroys the careers of good cricketers. Babar is doing fine in ODIs and T20s, he should be left alone. Giving him test captaincy will put unnecessary burden on him and will affect his batting performance and Pakistan cannot afford his failure as a batsman because without him team will hardly reach 150. Azhar should be given another tour as a captain to prove his worth. Besides making Babar captain will give rise to grouping in the team and team will definitely lose. l
Recommend 0

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