"No one from the PCB told him to leave captaincy" - Mohsin Naqvi on Babar Azam ahead of AUS vs PAK ODI series 2024
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has revealed that no one from the administration forced Babar Azam to step down as the white-ball captain. Instead, the PCB boss disclosed that the star batter discussed with him and wanted to relinquish his role to focus on his performances.
Babar had stepped down as captain after the 2023 World Cup, but the PCB reinstated him in the role ahead of T20 World Cup 2024 after having Shaheen Shah Afridi as skipper only after one series. Nevertheless, the Men in Green had a forgettable campaign, crashing out in the group stage, and Babar resigned earlier this month.
Speaking in a press conference on Sunday (October 27), Naqvi claimed:
"Babar Azam told me himself that he did not want to continue as captain. No one from the PCB told him to leave captaincy. He discussed it with himself with the coaches and wanted to focus on his performances. We spoke to the 5 mentors of the Champions Cup and the coaches and the majority of them believed that Mohammad Rizwan should be the captain and Salman Ali Agha the vice-captain of the side."
After announcing the squads for the Australia and Zimbabwe tour, Mohammad Rizwan was unveiled as the new white-ball skipper. The board also announced the fresh central contract list.
"You cannot go around commenting on the selection committee over selection calls" - Mohsin Naqvi on Fakhar Zaman's absence from the central contract list
With opening batter Fakhar Zaman cut from the contract list, Naqvi revealed that the southpaw's fitness was a bigger concern than his tweet over Babar's non-selection in the Test squad to face England. He added:
"Tweet was one issue, but the bigger matter was that of fitness. There is a show-cause notice pending against him, and we will see about that. He would need to prove his fitness, his point of view was valued in the Connection Camp and I am very thankful to him for that but you cannot go around commenting on the selection committee over selection calls. But ya, the bigger issue is of selection."
Pakistan registered a come-from-behind Test series victory over England. Their 50-over leg against Australia begins on November 4 in Melbourne.