Babar Azam To Lead Pakistan In All Formats? | Pakistan’s captaincy setup could be heading for another major change, with reports suggesting that Babar Azam may be handed leadership of the national team across all three formats.
However, current ODI captain Shaheen Afridi has made it clear that, for now, he remains in charge of Pakistan’s 50-over side.
Asked whether white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and selector Aaqib Javed continue to support him as ODI captain, Shaheen responded with a smile before saying, “Till now I am the captain.”
His comments come amid reports that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering appointing Babar as the all-format skipper.
According to a report by Telecom Asia Sport, Babar has been offered the Test captaincy with the understanding that he could eventually take charge of all three formats. The report claims that two selectors have assured the former Pakistan captain that strong results on the upcoming Test tours could pave the way for his return as the team’s all-format leader.
Babar is already expected to lead Pakistan in the Test series against the West Indies and England, although his appointment reportedly does not come with a long-term guarantee.
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Shaheen, meanwhile, was named Pakistan’s ODI captain in October last year after Mohammad Rizwan’s tenure ended following a disappointing Champions Trophy campaign. Pakistan were eliminated in the opening round of the tournament before subsequently suffering a historic ODI series defeat against the West Indies.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the captaincy, Shaheen has an impressive leadership record at franchise level. He has guided Lahore Qalandars to three Pakistan Super League titles over the past five seasons and is currently viewed as Pakistan’s ODI captain ahead of next year’s World Cup in Africa.
However, Pakistan’s frequent changes in leadership mean Shaheen’s position is far from guaranteed.
Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has also backed the possibility of Babar leading the national side at next year’s World Cup, adding further weight to speculation surrounding the ODI captaincy.
Pakistan are expected to have an extensive build-up to the 2027 World Cup. Their preparations include a home tri-series involving Sri Lanka and England, followed by another tri-series featuring Zimbabwe and Ireland, potentially in Zimbabwe. Pakistan are also scheduled to play a five-match series in England.
With a packed international calendar ahead, the PCB will have to decide whether to maintain Shaheen’s leadership in ODIs or make another change by bringing Babar back as Pakistan’s all-format captain.
