Pakistan cricket is going through a tumultuous time lately. While the team is failing to win anything meaningful, the constant regime change in the PCB isn’t helping the cause either.
After the first-round exit in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan suffered a humiliating 2-0 whitewash in the recently held home Test series against Bangladesh.
Pakistan’s embarrassing display has sparked strong reactions from their fans and former players, with many calling for the leadership change.
However, head coaches Gary Kirsten (white ball) and Jason Gillespie (red ball) have urged the PCB to avoid making hasty captaincy changes. The recent past has seen considerable turnover in leadership positions.
After Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-final during last year’s ODI World Cup in India, Babar Azam stepped down as skipper from all formats and the T20I captaincy was handed to Shaheen Afridi.
Under Shaheen, Pakistan suffered a 4-1 defeat in a T20I series on the tour of New Zealand and Babar was reinstated in the role.
Similarly, in Test cricket, Shan Masood's captaincy has come under the scanner after losing five consecutive matches.
"There has been no discussion on changing the captains as the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has left it up to the two coaches and selectors to decide on the captaincy," the source said, as quoted by PTI.
"And Kirsten and Gillespie are very clear that Shan and Babar both need to be given a proper run before judging their leadership abilities," he added.
The source further stated that both coaches wanted continuity in captaincy and have conveyed this to the board very clearly.
He also made it clear that the captaincy or team selections would not be discussed when the board holds its one-day workshop titled ‘Cricket Connection’ later this month in Lahore.
“That workshop is being held to hear the views of all stakeholders, mainly the domestic team coaches, selectors and contracted players so that the board is able to bridge the gap between domestic cricket and international cricket standards,” he said.
The source also informed that Gillespie, who would join via video link, and Kirsten, who would be present himself at the workshop, had told the PCB chief that patience and continuity in policies was required to get long term results from the team across formats.
“The workshop is basically being held because both the coaches want the domestic team coaches to have a clear picture of what is required from them to ensure a flow of players who can be considered for selection for the national teams in all formats,” he said.
Asked who would be named captain for the ODI series later this year in Australia and South Africa or for the Champions Trophy, the source said it would probably be Babar Azam to maintain continuity in white-ball formats.
(With PTI inputs)
