NEW DELHI: Pakistan cricket finds itself in the middle of upheaval, with coaching exits, leadership changes, and player dynamics making waves just ahead of crucial tours. Amid the chaos, however, former captain Babar Azam has become a fan favourite once again, receiving a warm welcome upon his arrival in Australia for the white-ball series.
Despite a dip in form, fans flocked to meet him at the arrival gate, taking selfies and offering words of support, as captured in a viral video.
Watch:
Babar returns to international cricket after being rested for the final two Tests against England.
With the burden of captaincy off his shoulders, he now has the chance to focus purely on his batting. He will feature in three ODIs and three T20Is against Australia before sitting out the Zimbabwe series to prepare for future challenges.
Off the field, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is dealing with turbulence following Gary Kirsten’s sudden resignation as white-ball coach.
Kirsten, who signed a two-year deal in April, left his post after just six months, citing internal disagreements. PCB’s decision to remove voting powers from coaches in team selection reportedly added to the friction.
With Kirsten gone, Test coach Jason Gillespie will guide the team on the Australia tour.
Pakistan will begin training in Melbourne on November 1, with the first ODI scheduled for November 4.
As the squad looks to find stability under their new captain in Mohammad Rizwan, all eyes will be on Babar Azam to rediscover his form and anchor the team through these critical matches.
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