Babar Azam appointed Karachi Kings captain, replaces Imad Wasim

Published November 30, 2021
Babar Azam celebrates reaching his century during the third ODI match between England and Pakistan at Edgbaston cricket ground in Birmingham on July 13. — AFP/File
Babar Azam celebrates reaching his century during the third ODI match between England and Pakistan at Edgbaston cricket ground in Birmingham on July 13. — AFP/File

Pakistan cricket team skipper Babar Azam has been appointed as the captain of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Karachi Kings, owner Salman Iqbal announced on Tuesday.

"Babar Azam the champion!! You have led our country and you shall lead the biggest city in Pakistan! Welcome as the king of Karachi Kings ARY cause u [sic] are a leader," Iqbal tweeted.

He also shared a video of Azam saying that he would "try to give his 100 per cent" as the new captain of Karachi Kings.

The batter said he had been playing for the franchise for the past five years and "it is like a family for me" now, adding that Iqbal and the franchise had shown confidence in him by appointing him as the new captain and he would give his best shot in the new leadership role.

"I enjoy when I am given a responsibility," he said.

Azam has replaced all-rounder Imad Wasim, who was appointed as the franchise's captain in 2017 and lead the team to victory for the first time in the sixth edition of Pakistan's premier Twenty20 tournament last year. Azam had knocked a commanding half-century to help his side win their first championship in five years at Karachi National Stadium, smashing seven boundaries in his 49-ball 63.

In the video shared by Iqbal, Azam said he would try to continue Wasim's legacy.

"We have already won a title," he said, expressing the hope that the team would perform well in the next edition of the PSL as well.

He also acknowledged the franchise's fans, saying that their support had been boosting the team's confidence.

"We will continue to try to entertain them and give them more [reasons] to celebrate."

Azam will be leading the franchise in the tournament's seventh edition, which, according to a Dawn report, is likely to be held in January and February next year.

The report said the Pakistan Cricket Board and all six franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) had unanimously decided to hold the next edition of the league in January and February next year, with all fixtures planned on home soil.

Citing sources in franchises, it added that the tournament was to start from Karachi and end in Punjab.

Opinion

Editorial

Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...
Ties with Tehran
Updated 24 Apr, 2024

Ties with Tehran

Tomorrow, if ties between Washington and Beijing nosedive, and the US asks Pakistan to reconsider CPEC, will we comply?
Working together
24 Apr, 2024

Working together

PAKISTAN’S democracy seems adrift, and no one understands this better than our politicians. The system has gone...
Farmers’ anxiety
24 Apr, 2024

Farmers’ anxiety

WHEAT prices in Punjab have plummeted far below the minimum support price owing to a bumper harvest, reckless...