Pakistan’s cricket legend Younis Khan advocated for Fakhar Zaman to be appointed as the captain of the national team. “Why can’t Fakhar Zaman be the captain of the side? Isn’t he a performer? Didn’t he do well in the last 50-over World Cup? Who is that one player who gave us hope?” Younis questioned. He noted that although Zaman had a slow start in the 2023 World Cup in India, he turned his form around in the latter half of the tournament, which aligned with Pakistan’s resurgence.
Zaman’s role in the 2017 Champions Trophy, where he played a pivotal part in Pakistan’s triumph, was also mentioned. He forged significant partnerships with Azhar Ali and scored a century in the final against India, underscoring his potential as a team leader.
Currently, Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team is led by Babar Azam. However, following a disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, where Pakistan suffered unexpected losses to the USA and India, the leadership has come under scrutiny. Although Pakistan managed victories against Canada and Ireland, these wins were insufficient to keep them in the tournament.
Babar Azam, who first took on the captaincy role in 2019, had stepped down after the 2023 World Cup, with Shaheen Shah Afridi initially taking over in 2024. However, Babar was reinstated as captain just before the T20 World Cup 2024.Younis Khan’s endorsement of Fakhar Zaman as a potential captain introduces a new perspective in the ongoing discussion about the future leadership of Pakistan’s cricket team. Whether the selectors will consider this suggestion remains to be seen, but it certainly adds an interesting dimension to the debate.