Pakistan Cricket
Babar Azam steps down as Pakistan white-ball captain
|| CF DESK ||
Babar Azam announced on Tuesday that he has decided to resign as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team.
In a post on X, Babar said: “I have decided to resign as captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, effective as of my notification to the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) 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.”
He said captaincy had been a “rewarding experience” but it added a “significant workload” on him.
“I want to prioritise 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,” he said.
Azam added that he was grateful for the unwavering support and belief in him.
“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.”
Babar returned to the captaincy in March after the PCB announced he would lead the Green Shirts in both ODIs and T20s as part of a "strategic move."
He initially became the T20 captain in 2019 and later took charge of the Test and ODI teams in 2020.
However, he stepped down in November last year following Pakistan’s poor performances in the Asia Cup and the 50-over World Cup. Shaheen Shah Afridi succeeded him as T20 captain, while Shan Masood took over as the Test skipper.