Babar Azam quits PCB skills development camp after two days

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has reportedly quit or left the ongoing Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Skills and Development Camp after attending just two days of training, raising questions about his role in the national team’s white-ball plans.

The 20-day camp, underway at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore, is aimed at grooming a pool of players for upcoming international commitments. The first batch, which began on June 16, includes several top names such as Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen Afridi. The camp is being overseen by white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, in collaboration with NCA coaches, and focuses on fitness, skill enhancement, and match simulations.

According to reports, Babar participated in the opening sessions but excused himself shortly after, opting not to continue for the remainder of the program. No official statement has been issued by either Babar or the PCB regarding his early departure.

While his sudden exit has led to speculation over his place in Pakistan’s T20 setup, PCB Director of High Performance Aaqib Javed has stated that all players, including Babar, remain under consideration and selection will be based purely on performance.

“No one has been discarded. Any player performing in domestic cricket or leagues can return to the team,” Javed said in a recent media interaction.

The camp is scheduled to run in two phases, with the first batch completing its stint by June 21, followed by a second batch from June 24 to July 6.

Babar’s early withdrawal comes at a time when the PCB is actively assessing its strategy and roster following Pakistan’s early exit from the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.