Following Babar Azam’s resignation as Pakistan’s white-ball captain, speculation is rife regarding his potential successor. Key candidates reportedly include Test vice-captain Saud Shakeel, explosive opener Fakhar Zaman, and all-rounder Salman Ali Agha.
Despite his leadership experience, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and pace bowler Shaheen Afridi are said to be unlikely contenders for the role. Saud Shakeel’s candidacy comes after he recently assumed the position of Test vice-captain from Rizwan during Pakistan’s series against Bangladesh. Fakhar Zaman, renowned for his aggressive batting style, is also a prominent candidate. On the other hand, Salman Ali Agha has yet to captain any team at the domestic level.
The position of Pakistan’s captain has seen constant changes following the team’s disappointing World Cup performance last November, which prompted Babar Azam to step down.
In the wake of this, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed Shaheen Afridi as the T20 captain and Shan Masood as the Test captain. However, Shaheen’s tenure was cut short when Babar returned to lead the white-ball team in March this year, only to resign once again.
Babar Azam’s recent departure from the captaincy has reopened discussions about the next leader, making it one of the most hotly debated topics in Pakistan cricket today.
