Pakistan expected to name 3 separate captains after Babar's resignation: Reports

Pakistan could have separate cricket captains in all three formats due to the heavy schedule and the pressure it could put on one white-ball skipper, according to sources. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was expected to hand over Babar Azam the ODI captaincy for the upcoming white-ball matches, but the senior batter tendered his resignation around midnight on Wednesday to focus on his batting.

Insiders suggest that appointing the next captain for the shorter formats will not be straightforward for white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten or the selection committee. “Mohammad Rizwan is the obvious choice for the white-ball captaincy given that, along with Babar, he is the only player who is an automatic selection in all formats of the game,” said an insider.

Babar Azam quits captaincy: Details

However, the hectic international calendar poses a worrying factor for red-ball coach Jason Gillespie, Kirsten, the PCB, and the selectors regarding Rizwan’s workload. Rizwan, Babar, and Shaheen Shah Afridi are all-format players, making workload management a significant concern. Pakistan is scheduled to play 18 ODIs and T20Is in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa between November and December, followed by a two-Test series in South Africa. After returning home in January, the team will engage in a two-Test series with the West Indies and an ODI tri-series with New Zealand and South Africa, leading up to the ICC Champions Trophy in February-March. After the ICC event, Pakistan will fly to New Zealand for a white-ball series before the PCB organises the Pakistan Super League.

“Babar was captain in all three formats for more than three years, but Kirsten and the selectors have reservations over whether Rizwan could handle the workload in the coming months while also leading the side in ODIs and T20Is,” said another source. It is possible that the PCB might have separate ODI and T20I captains or appoint a strong vice-captain to Rizwan, ensuring he gets ample breaks to manage his workload. In such a case, Rizwan’s deputy would lead the team.

Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, and Shaheen are among the other candidates under consideration for either the role of Rizwan’s deputy or leading the T20I or ODI side. The source mentioned that Kirsten had already informed the PCB that, following Babar’s loss of confidence and form, he didn’t think any other player could handle the captaincy pressures in two formats.