Babar Azam returns as Pakistan's white-ball captain

Babar Azam
Babar Azam's leadership will face a stern test in the T20 World Cup in June. File photo: AFP/Asif Hassan

Babar Azam was named Pakistan's white-ball skipper on Sunday, four-and-a-half months after the batter had stepped down as their all-format captain following their World Cup debacle in India.

Pakistan could not make the knockout stage of the 50-overs World Cup last year, which prompted Babar to relinquish captaincy.

Pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi was subsequently put in charge of the T20I squad, while Shan Masood was named the Test captain.

"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," the Pakistan Cricket Board said on X.

Under Afridi, Pakistan were hammered 4-1 in a T20I series in New Zealand earlier this year.

Babar will begin his new stint with a five-match home T20I series against New Zealand next month but his leadership will face a tougher test in the 20-overs World Cup in June.

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