After star batter Babar Azam's recent resignation as Pakistan's white-ball captain, speculation is rife over who will take up the mantle next. Among the leading contenders for the role are Test vice-captain Saud Shakeel, dynamic opener Fakhar Zaman, and all-rounder Salman Ali Agha.

As the Pakistan Cricket Team searches for a new white-ball captain, Mohammed Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi do not appear in the shortlist. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a three-man shortlist of some surprising names.

Babar Azam has stepped down from Pakistan’s white-ball captaincy only six months after being reappointed ODI and Twenty20 skipper by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Former Pakistan cricketer Sikander Bakht has criticized Babar Azam for postponing his resignation as white-ball captain.

Babar Azam resigned as Pakistan's white-ball skipper on Tuesday, saying he wanted to focus on his playing role in the future matches, batter said on social media site X.

Azam was captain when Pakistan crashed out of the T20 World Cup after a bruising loss to newcomers the United States. He said he stood down to focus on his playing role as a batsman. "He should not have accepted captaincy again," Latif said.

Babar Azam has resigned as Pakistan's white-ball cricket captain for a second time in 11 months, citing a need to lessen his workload and focus on improving his game.

Among the many issues that seem to be plaguing is the apparent tension between star batter Babar Azam and pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi, arguably the two faces of the Pakistan team at the moment. Pakistan opener Mudassar Nazar has blamed PCB for the escalating tension between the two senior players,

As per reports in Pakistani media, the players of the national team are yet to receive their four months' salary, be it stars like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan or Shaheen Afridi.