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Pakistan To Have 3 Separate Captains For All Formats After Babar Azam's Resignation

Babar Azams resigns Pakistan white-ball captaincy [Source: @imransiddique89/X.com]Babar Azams resigns Pakistan white-ball captaincy [Source: @imransiddique89/X.com]

On October 2, Babar Azam made a surprising announcement—he stepped down as Pakistan's white-ball captain. This move came just before the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was expected to reappoint him as the captain for upcoming white-ball matches. Instead, Babar took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce his resignation, leaving the PCB in a challenging position. Now, they not only need a new captain for One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), but they must also figure out how to manage the heavy workload on players.

The task of selecting a new captain is far from easy for white-ball coach Gary Kirsten and the selection committee. Many believe Mohammad Rizwan is the top contender for the white-ball captaincy. 

"Mohammad Rizwan is the obvious choice for the white-ball captaincy given that, along with Babar, he is the only player who is an automatic selection in all formats of the game," an insider said

Alongside Babar and Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi is also an all-format player, adding complexity to balancing these players' schedules.

Pakistan's Upcoming Hectic Schedule

With Pakistan's packed schedule ahead, managing the workload of key players will be a big challenge. The team is set to host England for a three-Test series in October before taking on a demanding series of matches in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.

After the England Test series, the team will play 18 ODIs and T20Is in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa from November to December. They will then face South Africa in a two-Test series before returning home for a series against the West Indies. 

Early 2025 will see Pakistan hosting an ODI tri-series featuring New Zealand and South Africa, which serves as a warm-up for the ICC Champions Trophy, also hosted by Pakistan. Post Champions Trophy, Pakistan will travel to New Zealand for more white-ball matches before the Pakistan Super League (PSL) begins.

Sources suggest that while Rizwan is favoured for the captaincy, some within the PCB are unsure if he can handle the pressure of captaining both the ODI and T20I teams. 

"Babar was captain in all three formats for more than three years, but Kirsten and the selectors have reservations over whether Rizwan could handle the workload in the coming months while also leading the side in ODIs and T20Is," said another source. 

Potential vice-captains include Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, Test captain Shan Masood, and Shaheen Afridi. Any of these players could also step in as captain if Rizwan decides against taking on the full workload or is passed over for the role.