Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has hailed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s decision to appoint top-order batsman Babar Azam as captain of the Twenty20 International (T20I) side.

While speaking during a Youtube video, the cricketer-turned-commentator said that Babar’s performance as T20I captain could also pave the path for his appointment as the team’s Test captain.  

“It is a good and brave decision by PCB to appoint Babar as captain because you need young leadership, as it is in line with T20 cricket’s requirements, in the shortest format of the game,” said Raja.

“If Babar does well in T20 cricket, he might well go on to become the captain of the Test side as well,” he added.  

ALSO READ: ‘Scared’ Karachi players responsible for their own downfall, not Punjab: Akhtar

The 57-year-old also stated that wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed’s removal as the captain, in all formats, was not surprising.

“This had to happen because pressure was building on Sarfaraz,” he said. “We were losing Tests matches at home [UAE], failed to qualify for 2019 World Cup semis and lost to a second string Sri Lankan team, despite being the number one T20 side in the world.”

 The Faisalabad-born also questioned PCB’s decision to appoint top-order batsman Azhar Ali as the captain in the longest format of the game.   

“Azhar is a stopgap captain because he will always be under pressure, bearing in mind his recent form and fitness,” he said. “He also struggled to play the short ball during tour of South Africa and he will face similar treatment against Australia. He will have his work cut out during the upcoming Test series.”