Pakistan captain Babar Azam rejected having any knowledge of any impending changes in the national team's leadership amid the speculations after the new Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ramiz Raja shied away from endorsing him as the all-format captain.
There were rumors that new PCB chairman Raja was monitoring the situation and could wield his proverbial axe on Babar if his expectations were not met.
Recently, Raja had said that it was too early to give his assessment on backing Babar as an all-format captain but insisted that his expectations for the current skipper are the same as he had with the legendary Imran Khan.
However, ahead of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting on Friday (September 17), Babar has on Thursday (September 16) brushed off speculation of losing the Pakistan captaincy and said his current focus is to win the ODI and T20I series against the Black Caps.
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Addressing a virtual media conference on Thursday, Babar said: “I have no idea about it so far” when he was asked whether Raja had hinted of any changes.
The skipper also reacted to the reports of him being unhappy with Pakistan's squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021, saying he had given his input as captain as usual and clarified that he is completely backing the team while claiming this was not any individual’s team.
Babar also hopes to do well in the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand at home.
Babar said, “I think the board officials and chief selector have also clarified the position on team selection so for me I am completely backing the side and expect it to do well against New Zealand.”
He concluded, “We are not taking them lightly at all despite this being our home conditions. They as a nation have done extremely well in ODIs and T20 cricket in recent years and were also finalists of the last World Cup and the World Test Championship final so obviously, their depth of talent is good.”
(With PTI Inputs)
