Babar Azam was assured of becoming an empowered captain

 Babar Azam was assured of becoming an empowered captain

Karachi: In New Zealand, Babar Azam will also take the Test lead while he has been assured of becoming a full-fledged captain.

The PCB had appointed Azhar Ali as the captain of the national team in place of Sarfraz Ahmed in October last year, but he fell out with the authorities within a year. In the last Test of the tour of England, he declared a return to form by scoring a century, but Pakistan had to lose the series due to failure in the first Test.

Azhar Ali had recently gone to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan along with chief selector and head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and all-rounder Muhammad Hafeez, where he presented a case against unemployed cricketers, which was reprimanded by board officials but at the same time. His leadership seemed to be in danger.

Sources said that although the news started coming in the media on Thursday but several days ago, PCB chairman Ehsan Mani had asked Babar Azam to be ready. In this meeting, he had told the young batsman that the board He wants to lead them in Tests as well as ODIs and T20s. Board officials had also assured him of making him an empowered captain.

Sources further said that when the news of handing over the leadership to Mohammad Rizwan in the Tests came out yesterday, Babar was also surprised that the board, behind the scenes, brought out Babar Azam's name as the front runner. If Babar is given the responsibility for a long time, the seniors or juniors with whom he feels comfortable should form his own team, soon the Pakistani side will be on the path of victory again.

On the other hand, circles close to Azhar Ali say that he was used by the board and left. If he had been made the captain, he should have been given some time.

Meanwhile, when the Express correspondent inquired about the meeting between Chairman Ehsan Mani and Babar Azam a few days ago, Samiul Hassan Burney, Director Media, PCB, said that he was not aware of any such meeting or decision. Is.