PAK vs AUS: Pakistan has announced an 18-member squad for three-match Test series against Australia which will be played from December 14, 2023, to January 7, 2024. Shan Masood will lead Pakistan’s Test squad for the first time after being appointed the Test Captain. Shan Masood was selected as Pakistan’s Captain for the ICC WTC 2023-25 cycle after Babar Azam resigned from captaincy of all formats.
Shan has featured in 30 Tests amassing 1,597 runs which includes four tons & seven fifties. Shan has been named as captain till the end of the ICC WTC Test 2023-25. Shan’s first assignment as Captain will be the three-match Test Series against Australia starting on 14th December.
Shaheen Afridi will lead the Pakistan Men’s team in the T20I format & his first assignment will be the five-match T20I series in New Zealand from January 12 to 21. Overall Shaheen has scalped 64 wickets in 52 T20Is. Previously Shaheen has led Lahore Qalandars in the PSL & helped the team to win the tournament twice in 2022 & 2023 eidtions.
“Shan and Shaheen were appointed captains after Babar Azam today stepped down from all three formats of the game. Pakistan’s captain in the ODI format will be announced in due course,” a statement from PCB read.
PCB decided to remove Babar from White Ball Captaincy
After Babar resigned from Captaincy PCB published a report stating that while Babar was given the option to stay as Test captain, the board has taken the decision to remove him from white ball captaincy due to poor show in limited overs format.
After consultation with his family, Babar has decided to step down from captaincy from all formats & PCB has accepted his decision.
What did PCB say on Babar Azam stepping down from Captaincy
After receiving Babar’s resignation PCB said that he is truly a world-class player & they want him to evolve as a player. The board further said that Babar is one of the best batters Pakistan has ever produced. He is an asset to Pakistan & board will continue to support him.
“We want to see him grow as a great batter and now without his additional burden of the captaincy, he can focus more on his performances to reach even greater heights. We respect his decision and will continue to back him,” PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf further said in his statement.
PAK vs AUS: Pakistan’s Squad for Australia Test Series
Shan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
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