3 Potential Replacements For Babar Azam As Pakistan's White Ball Captain

Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan [Source: @HamzaKhan259/x.com]Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan [Source: @HamzaKhan259/x.com]

In one of the most abrupt and sudden developments, Babar Azam, the captain of the Pakistan Men's Cricket team in the white ball format, stepped down. The ace batter revealed his decision via his X (formerly Twitter) handle. 

As per the post by Babar Azam, he decided to concentrate more on his batting and individual performance. Notably, one of the mainstays of the Pakistan batting line-up, Babar Azam, has been going through a lean phase for quite some time now. The belief is that the reduction in workload will allow him to play more freely and enjoy his batting more. 

With the Champions Trophy 2025 approaching, the management will want to select their white-ball captain as soon as possible. 

3. Shadab Khan

The Pakistani all-rounder has been integral to the team since his debut in 2017.  Shadab Khan has, over the years, proved his worth as an all-rounder. He has bailed the team out of pressure on many occasions with the bat and the ball. Even though he is not going through a great time, Shadab has proven himself a clutch performer. The fact that Shadab plays in both T20Is and ODIs goes in his favour. Shadab Khan has also won the late season of the PSL as a captain. Besides being just 25, he can be a long-term prospect in the leadership role. 

2. Shaheen Afridi

The ace Pakistani pacer is a very important part of the Pakistan team. Shaheen Afridi has scripted some of Pakistan's memorable wins with his lethal spells. Besides being an important part of the team, Shaheen Afridi has proven himself as an able leader by leading Lahore Qalandars to two consecutive title wins. Much like Shadab, Afridi also has the age on his side and could be a prospect for the team. 

1. Mohammad Rizwan

The Pakistani keeper batter has been the most consistent run-scorer for the team, especially in the white ball formats. Mohammad Rizwan has also proven himself as a leader in the PSL. The Multan Sultans have played in the finals under his leadership in the last four seasons. While he has won the title once, his team's consistency under his captaincy proves the stability he brings to his team as a leader. These factors point out that Rizwan could be a good leader for Pakistan in the white ball format.