Babar Azam reappointed as Pakistan's white-ball captain ahead of T20 WC

• Babar Azam returns as Pakistan's white-ball captain ahead of the T20 World Cup, replacing Shaheen Afridi
• Pakistan Cricket Board cites Afridi's poor captaincy stint in the Pakistan Super League as a factor in Azam's reappointment
• Azam will lead Pakistan in upcoming T20I series against New Zealand and England before the T20 World Cup campaign

Babar Azam has been reinstated as Pakistan's white-ball captain, taking over from Shaheen Afridi ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. The decision, announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), comes four months after Azam was removed from the leadership position following Pakistan's disappointing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup. PCB cited Afridi's poor captaincy stint in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as a contributing factor to Azam's reappointment, with the board opting for a change in leadership before the crucial T20 tournament.

Pakistan's lackluster performance in recent tournaments, including their early exit from the 50-over World Cup and a 1-4 defeat against New Zealand in a five-match T20I series, prompted PCB to reassess their captaincy choices. Azam, who previously stepped down from the role after the ODI World Cup, will now lead Pakistan in a series against New Zealand followed by crucial T20 matches against England before the commencement of the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.