Late on Tuesday night, Babar Azam made the shocking announcement of his resignation as the captain for Pakistan Cricket Team for the white-ball format. However, Babar Azam was previously the captain of Pakistan cricket team across all formats. Earlier, he resigned as a captain following the disappointing results of the national team during the 2023 ODI World Cup held in India. Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi was appointed as the T20I captain in place of Babar after him but was again to removed when Babar was reinstated as a captain in March 2024.
Notwithstanding, very little success was archived during his second tenure as a captain of Pakistan as the team was eliminated in the group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup. That campaign saw Pakistan lose to USA, who were ranked much lower. Despite the match looking comfortable for Pakistan, India emerged victorious.
There has been an escalating pressure to perform especially on the cricketing front in Pakistan of late especially on the back of their Test Series loss to Bangladesh at home.
The following is the complete content of the announcement made by Babar Azam on his retirement in X:
“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 honour 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.”
