In an expected move from Pakistan cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially appointed Shan Masood as the Test captain and Shaheen Shah Afridi as the T20I captain. This huge decision on Wednesday, signaling a fresh chapter in the leadership of the national cricket team.
Announced via X (formerly Twitter), the PCB introduced Shan Masood as the captain for the Test side, while entrusting Shaheen Shah Afridi with the leadership of the T20I squad.
This leadership shakeup follows the voluntary resignation of star batter Babar Azam from the all-format captaincy role. Azam’s choice came on the heels of Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in the ongoing World Cup 2023, prompting a quest for a new direction under fresh leadership.
Babar Azam’s decision to step down unfolded after a meeting with PCB Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. The move was a response to Pakistan’s ICC Cricket World Cup campaign, marked by five losses, a record for the team. Among these defeats were the first-ever loss against Afghanistan in ODIs and the first World Cup defeat to South Africa this century.
Under Azam’s captaincy, Pakistan fell short of the semifinals, securing the fifth position in the standings with eight points.
With the newly appointed leaders, Shan Masood and Shaheen Shah Afridi, the PCB aims to breathe new life into the team’s spirit and performance across Test and T20I formats. Cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate witnessing how this fresh leadership will guide the team through upcoming challenges, starting with the imminent three-match Test series in Australia.
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