Babar Azam reinstated as Pakistan's white-ball captain

NEW DELHI: Babar Azam has been named as the white-ball captain of the national team in a significant development for Pakistan cricket, marking his return to leadership roles after stepping down as all-format captain following the World Cup debacle in India.Pakistan's disappointing performance in the 50-overs World Cup last year prompted Babar Azam to relinquish the captaincy, as the team failed to progress beyond the group stage."Following unanimous recommendation from the PCB’s selection committee, chairman Mohsin Naqvi has appointed Babar Azam as white-ball captain of the Pakistan men's cricket team," announced the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on social media platform X.The decision comes after pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi was handed the reins of the T20 squad, while Shan Masood assumed the role of Test captain.Babar Azam's reinstatement as the white-ball captain follows a period of leadership transition for Pakistan cricket, with the PCB aiming to rejuvenate the team's performance across formats.Under Shaheen Afridi's captaincy, Pakistan endured a setback with a 4-1 defeat in a T20 series against New Zealand earlier this year, highlighting the challenges faced by the team in the shortest format.Babar is set to commence his new tenure as white-ball captain with a five-match home T20 series against New Zealand next month. However, his leadership skills will face a rigorous examination in the upcoming T20 World Cup in June, where Pakistan will strive for a stronger showing under his guidance.(With inputs from Reuters)