Pakistan’s leadership is poised for another change as star batsman Babar Azam has announced his decision to step down from the limited-overs captaincy.
In a detailed post on X, Babar revealed that he informed the PCB of his decision to step down from the white-ball captaincy, stating his desire to “focus on my performance, enjoy my batting, and spend more time with my family.”
“I have decided to resign as captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, 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.” Babar Azam posted on X.
“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.”
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…
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) October 1, 2024
The PCB has accepted his resignation, and the selectors are now tasked with choosing a new captain for Pakistan’s white-ball squads.
“Although the PCB had backed Babar Azam as the white-ball captain, his decision to step down reflects his desire to focus more on making a greater impact as a player,” the board said in a statement. “This decision is a testament to his professionalism and commitment to Pakistan cricket. He believes that dedicating himself fully to his batting will enable him to play a more decisive role in the team’s success in the shorter formats.
Azam’s resignation comes nearly six months after being reappointed as captain of Pakistan’s white-ball teams. Following Pakistan’s disappointing performance at the ODI World Cup in India last year, Babar had initially stepped down from captaincy across all formats. However, just four months later, he was reinstated as skipper of the T20I and ODI teams. In the interim, Shaheen Afridi, who had taken over as T20I captain, was replaced after leading for just one T20I series.
Babar Azam’s milestones as Pakistan captain
Under Babar Azam’s leadership, Pakistan secured 84 victories across all formats, making him the second-most successful captain in the nation’s history, trailing only the iconic Imran Khan. He also amassed 6,739 runs as captain, placing him second only to Misbah-ul-Haq among Pakistan’s highest run-scorers in this role, showcasing his remarkable consistency as both a leader and a player.
The 29-year-old has scored 15 centuries as captain which is the most by any Pakistani captain and with a win percentage of 59.49%, Babar ranks among the most successful T20I captains worldwide. He has scored 6,739 runs as captain, making him second only to Misbah-ul-Haq on Pakistan’s list of highest run-scorers in the role, highlighting his consistency as both a leader and a player.
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Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
