A captivating twist has emerged in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 edition with the announcement that Babar Azam has not been designated as the captain of the Colombo Strikers. Rather, the reins of leadership for the team have been entrusted to Niroshan Dickwella. Coach Simon Helmot has shed light on the reasoning behind this decision, offering insights into why Dickwella has assumed the role of skipper this season instead of Babar.
Babar Azam, a Pakistani cricketer and acknowledged as one of the most exceptional talents in contemporary cricket, recently underscored his prowess with a remarkable century in LPL 2023. This remarkable feat marked his 10th T20 century, a distinctive achievement. Itโs worth noting that Babar stands as the sole player to have achieved a century in the ongoing LPL season.
Coach Helmot unveiled that Babar Azam himself endorsed the idea of having Niroshan Dickwella as the captain, and the Sri Lankan cricketer embraced the responsibility with pride. Helmot explained, โBabar wanted Dickwella as the captain, and it was a very, very simple process for us after that. Heโs so collaborative. He [Babar] looks after people, whether it is emotionally, mentally, or technically. He is a great asset to have as a support mechanism on the side,โ as shared during an interview with Wisden.
Niroshan Dickwella, who has taken on the mantle of captaincy, expressed his enthusiasm for the role and the partnership he shares with Babar Azam on the field. He emphasized their collaborative decision-making process and the alignment in their cricketing approach. Dickwella stated, โIโm enjoying my responsibility, especially in the middle with Babar. Heโs helping me throughout the innings and we always make decisions together. We both think in the same way. At the end of the day, I get ideas from everyone and then I try and make the right decision, according to what I feel. Just keep it simple.โ
The article also highlights Babar Azamโs deliberation between participating in the Lanka Premier League and the Global T20 League. Ultimately, he opted for the LPL 2023 due to the World Cupโs Asian setting. His father played a pivotal role in influencing his choice by underscoring the similarities between Sri Lankan pitches and the anticipated conditions for the 2023 World Cup in India.