Karachi: Babar Azam will also take the Test lead in New Zealand while he has been assured of becoming a full-fledged captain.
The PCB had appointed Azhar Ali as the captain of the national team in place of Sarfraz Ahmed in October last year, but he fell out with the authorities within a year. In the last Test of the tour of England, he announced his return to form by scoring a century, but Pakistan had to lose the series due to failure in the first Test.
Azhar Ali had recently gone to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan along with chief selector and head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and all-rounder Muhammad Hafeez, where he presented a case against unemployed cricketers, which was reprimanded by board officials. Still, at the same time, his leadership seemed to be in danger.
Sources said that although the news started coming in the media on Thursday but several days ago, PCB chairman Ehsan Mani had asked Babar Azam to be ready. In this meeting, he had told the young batsman that the board He wants to lead them in Tests as well as ODIs and T20s. Board officials had also assured him of making him an empowered captain.
Sources further said that when the news of handing over the leadership to c in the Tests came out yesterday, Babar was also surprised that the board, behind the scenes, named Babar Azam as the front runner. If Babar is given the responsibility for a long time, the seniors or juniors with whom he feels comfortable should form his own team, then soon the Pakistani side will be on the path of victory again.
On the other hand, circles close to Azhar Ali and sources say that he was used by the board and left. If he had been made the captain, he should have been given some time. Now, if he is removed from the leadership, the only reason will be to meet the Prime Minister.
