Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has voiced his support for ex-skipper Babar Azam’s decision to step down from the captaincy, calling it a “beneficial” move for his career. Younis also suggested wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and left-handed batter Fakhar Zaman as strong candidates for the leadership role.
Younis criticized the tendency in Pakistan cricket to appoint the best player as captain, noting, “In our culture, we often make the biggest player the captain, which I believe is a mistake.” He emphasized the need to consider Rizwan or Zaman for the position.
Babar Azam announced on Tuesday that he was resigning from his role as captain in white-ball formats, expressing his desire to focus more on his individual performance and personal development. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had previously reappointed him as the captain for T20Is and ODIs on March 31. Babar had earlier stepped down as captain in November 2023, ending his long tenure as Pakistan’s skipper.
Younis shared his views during a visit to Adelaide Oval, where he was honored with the South Australia Redbacks cap by former Australian cricketer and current High-Performance Coach of the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA), Mark Cosgrove. The former Pakistan cricketer had represented the Redbacks during the 2008-2009 season.
While addressing the media, Younis expressed optimism about Pakistan’s chances in Australia but acknowledged the challenges in team selection. He praised Jason Gillespie’s efforts in helping improve the Pakistan team but stressed the need for better decision-making in squad selection.
Younis will also participate in the upcoming Australian Summer Cricket Festival on October 5 in Melbourne, where he will join notable Australian cricketers like Glenn Maxwell and Jake Fraser-McGurk to celebrate the sport.
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