Shadab Khan, the vice-captain of the Pakistan white-ball team, claimed on Sunday that Babar Azam is unaware that he will be rested for the next T20 series against Afghanistan.
Shadab Khan told the media after Peshawar Zalmi’s 13-run victory over Islamabad United in the 29th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL 2023) at Rawalpindi that he had asked Babar about the rumors but that he also was unaware of it.
According to rumors, Shaheen Afridi may be assigned the responsibility of leading the team instead of Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan for the three-match series slated for Sharjah later this month.
Also, it was said that young players Saim Ayub, Ihsanullah, Faheem Ashraf, and Imad Wasim would all get an opportunity to join the team during the UAE tour.
In the most recent development, sources indicated that Afridi might also not play and that Shadab Khan would likely captain the team instead.
Shaheen Afridi was apparently offered the leadership earlier on Sunday by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi, to which he reportedly consented.
A reporter questioned Shadab Khan about the claims that Shaheen Shah Afridi would be captain for the series against Afghanistan while Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan would be rested during the press conference on Sunday.
Shadab responded by asking the reporter whether he was also getting some rest.
“I am learning from you that Rizwan, Babar, or I are being rested in the series against Afghanistan; if there was such a thing, we would have been informed,” he said.
Shadab went on to say that he questioned Babar Azam, who also doesn’t know anything, if there was anything similar to this of which we were notified, but that nobody had gotten in touch with us.
It should be mentioned that on March 24, 26, and 27, Sharjah will host three T20 matches versus Afghanistan.
