My expectations for Babar Azam are the same as I had with Imran Khan: PCB chairman Ramiz Raja

Babar Azam will lead Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2021.

Ramiz Raja was appointed as the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unanimously and unopposed for a three-year term. The election result declared the former cricketer as the 36th chairman of the board. 

Raja, a part of the 1992 World Cup-winning Pakistan team, said that it is too early to assess Babar Azam as a captain, but said that he has similar expectations from the current Pakistan captain as he had with the mercurial Imran Khan. 

"It's too early for me to assess him. It's important for me to know him better. It's similarly important for me to understand the role. You (as captain) tend to make many demands, some good but others which you need to make a persuasive case for," ESPNcricinfo quoted Ramiz as saying.

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He said that he talked to Azam a couple of times to tell him the expectations he has.

"I did a couple of sessions with him and told him that if you don't have 400 autograph hunters outside the academy then the whole objective to play cricket has failed. I want a leadership like the one I played under in my era. My expectations for Babar are the same as I had with Imran Khan," he added.

Former Australian batsman Mathew Hayden and former South Africa pacer Vernon Philander were appointed as the batting and bowling consultants for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021 on Monday following the resignation of Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis. 

Ramiz Raja announced a U19 T20 league to strengthen age-group cricket in the country. 

(With ANI inputs)