Mohammad Rizwan ‘strongest’ captaincy candidate to replace Babar Azam

LAHORE: After Babar Azam stepped down as captain of Pakistan’s cricket team, Mohammad Rizwan, a right-handed batter and wicket-keeper, is expected to be the top choice to replace him, sources told Geo News on Wednesday.

Officials have been asked to consult with Rizwan about team selection, according to these sources.

Earlier, Babar announced that he was giving up his role as captain in white-ball cricket to focus more on his performance and personal growth. “By stepping down, I can focus more on my game and personal development,” Babar, 29, wrote on X.

Sources confirmed that Babar wasn’t forced to quit as captain, but he was advised to stay on as the captain of the ODI team since coach Gary Kirsten wanted him in that role. Kirsten’s plan, which he proposed back in July, was to bring in a new captain for T20 matches to help shape the team’s future.

In July, Kirsten visited Pakistan, held meetings, and shared a report on the T20 World Cup. He also met Babar during this visit to discuss the captaincy issue. Despite Kirsten urging him to continue as ODI captain, Babar felt distant from the team and unappreciated. Sources said he was no longer in contact with the board after the World Cup and was not part of any decision-making processes. However, he informed a senior official of his decision before publicly announcing his resignation.

Babar’s decision to step down comes amid strong criticism after Pakistan’s poor performance in both the Asia Cup and World Cup, where they were eliminated before the semi-finals.