The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made the decision to reinstate Babar Azam as the T20 captain following a recommendation from the newly formed selection committee to change the skipper. Sources reveal that Babar will resume his role as captain during the upcoming five-match T20 series against New Zealand. Previously, under Zaka Ashraf’s tenure, Shaheen Shah Afridi was appointed as the white-ball captain after the team’s poor performance in the ICC World Cup 2023, while Shan Masood was given the red-ball captaincy by the prior management. The selection committee unanimously advised PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi that Babar Azam should lead the T20 cricket team, according to insider sources. The 29-year-old is expected to participate in the Kakul training camp as the captain. Meanwhile, Shaheen was reportedly contemplating stepping down as the T20I captain in response to these developments. However, sources close to him have advised against it, stressing that the appointment of the captain is solely the prerogative of the cricket board, and he should accept whatever decision the PCB makes. Babar had previously resigned from the captaincy across all formats in November last year, concluding his lengthy tenure in the leadership role, following a disappointing World Cup campaign. The former captain faced criticism for several months after Pakistan’s underwhelming performances in the Asia Cup and the subsequent World Cup, where they were eliminated before reaching the semifinals.