Babar Azam joins Pakistan Army-led fitness camp in Kakul

Pakistan star player Babar Azam has joined the fitness camp at the Army School of Physical Training (ASPT) in Kakul after completing his holy journey of performing Umrah.

The cricket body, in collaboration with the Pakistan Army, organsied a camp for 29 players to prepare them for the upcoming series and tournaments, including the home T20I series against New Zealand, the away T20I series against Ireland and England, and the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup in USA and West Indies.

Sources said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to appoint Babar as the national cricket team's captain again.

According to the sources, the 29-year-old batter has joined the training session as team captain.

Sources within the cricket body confirmed that the decision to reappoint the Babar is taken on the newly-formed selection committee's recommendation.

"PCB will formally announce its decision by today [Friday]," sources added.

Currently, Shaheen Shah Afridi is leading the Pakistan team in the T20 format, and Shah Masood captains in the Test format.

After the World Cup 2023, the Green Shirts played the first T20 series against New Zealand under the leadership of Shaheen Afridi and the event concluded with Pakistan’s defeat, 4-1, to Kiwis.

However, cricket body officials are not happy with the performance of both format skippers.

Following players are selected for fitness camp

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Haseebullah, Saud Shakeel, Usman Khan, Mohammad Haris, Salman Ali Agha, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Irfan Khan Niazi, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mehran Mumtaz, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Ali, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Aamir Jamal, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Amir.