Pakistan’s captaincy situation is about to take another turn, as Babar Azam has announced his resignation from the Pakistan team’s captaincy in limited-overs formats.
Following the team’s disappointing performance at the 2023 ODI World Cup, Pakistan replaced the 29-year-old as their white-ball captain. However, after only three months, Babar was reappointed to the role in March 2024.
Babar’s second spell as Pakistan’s captain began in disarray when Pakistan tumbled out of the T20 World Cup in the group stages, with a defeat to the United States being the team’s low point. The loss to archrivals India, despite being in pole position, was also a talking point.
Given the prevailing trends of Pakistan cricket, the current event couldn’t be more surprising. The Test team recently lost to Bangladesh for the first time in history, and Pakistan’s overall morale as an international team has been low.
Babar made his resignation announcement public on the social media platform ‘X’, in which he said that it’s time to focus only on his batting.
“Dear Fans, I’m sharing some news with you today. I have decided to resign as captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, effective as of my notification to the PCB and Team Management last month.”
“It’s been an honor to lead this team, but it’s time for me to step down and focus on my playing role. Captaincy has been a rewarding experience, but it’s added a significant workload. I want to prioritize my performance, enjoy my batting, and spend quality time with my family, which brings me joy.”
“By stepping down, I will gain clarity moving forward and focus more energy on my game and personal growth. I’m grateful for your unwavering support and belief in me. Your enthusiasm has meant the world to me. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and excited to continue contributing to the team as a player. Thank you for your love and support.” Babar wrote in his post.
Pakistan’s upcoming white-ball series includes tours to Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa within the next six months. Shaheen Afridi succeeded Babar as T20I captain after his last term ended, but the left-arm pacer was also abruptly ousted from captaincy, sparking speculation about who Pakistan’s future white-ball skipper could be.
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