“Babar…ek asset hai…”: PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi breaks silence on Babar Azam’s decision to quit captaincy

New Delhi: As Pakistan announced their white ball captaincy, Babar Azam the former captain has found himself surrounded by media. Earlier, Babar stepped down as Pakistan’s all-format captain last year after Men in Green failed to qualify for the semifinals of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup.

However, after a change in Pakistan Cricket Board leadership earlier, Babar was brought back as Pakistan captain and led them in the T20 World Cup 2024. Once again the team failed to progress from the group stage. Subsequently, there were calls for Babar’s sacking, and via a social media post on October 2, Babar finally announced his retirement.

However, there were calls on social media that Babar was forced to quit his role of captaincy by the PCB owing to the team’s performance in white ball. But PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi has a different take on the entire incident.

In a recent interview by Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB Chief remarked:

Babar humara Pakistan ka ek asset hai. Kafi arse baad is tareh ke bade players aate hai. Usne mujhse raabta kiya aur usne kaha ki Mohsin bhai mai as a captain continue nahi karna chahta. Kisi ne usse koi… bahut sari baatein beech mein aato nahi thi, lekin main apko bata sakta hoon ki PCB mein se kisi se usse koi na raabta kiya tha ki aapne captaincy chodni hai ya kuch karna hai, uska khud. Usne pehele coaches se aur baki logo se apna mashwara kiya aur fir mujhe kaha ki main as captain continue nahi karna chahta…

Rizwan takes charge of the white ball

Wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan has been announced as the new white ball captain of Pakistan, thereby replacing Babar Azam in charge. Rizwan’s first major test will be to lead a turbulent side against Australia in ODIs and T20Is.