PCB not considering Babar Azam’s return as T20 captain, board sources say

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board is not considering a move to bring Babar Azam back as captain of the national T20 side, according to board sources, who said no such proposal is currently under discussion.

The clarification comes after speculation that Babar could be reinstated in place of Salman Ali Agha following his strong showing in PSL 11. According to the details cited by board sources, Babar finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 588 runs, matching Fakhar Zaman’s record, while also leading Peshawar Zalmi to the title.

Despite that performance, a senior board official gave a firm no when asked whether the PCB was weighing Babar’s return to the role. Sources said the board’s think tank has not discussed any such move so far.

According to the same sources, the board’s immediate attention remains on Test cricket, with the aim of improving results in the ICC Championship. They said T20 matters would be taken up at the appropriate time.

Sources further said that the shortest format is now seen as one that suits modern, aggressive young cricketers, and that preference will be given to such players.

Babar’s recent T20 record and captaincy timeline

Babar last captained Pakistan in T20 Internationals during the 2024 World Cup. After his stint ended, Mohammad Rizwan led the side for a few matches before Salman Ali Agha took over.

Under Salman’s captaincy, Pakistan have won 31 of their 50 matches, although sources said his batting returns have fallen short of expectations. During Babar’s time as T20 captain, Pakistan won 48 of 85 matches.

White-ball coach Mike Hesson had previously opposed Babar’s inclusion in the T20 setup. Even so, Babar was picked in this year’s World Cup squad, where he made 91 runs in six matches, while Pakistan’s overall campaign did not meet expectations.

Board sources indicated that, even now, a return to the captaincy appears unlikely on the basis of PSL form alone.

Strike-rate discussion remains part of selection debate

Babar’s T20 International strike rate stands at 128. In the recent PSL season, however, he scored at an improved rate of around 146.

The latest developments suggest that, for now, the PCB is not moving towards a leadership change in the T20 side involving the former captain. Pakistan’s next assignment in the format is a three-match series against Sri Lanka in October.