Babar Azamin a post late on Tuesday, announced that he is stepping down from his role as the white-ball captain of the Pakistan cricket team. Babar Azam has earlier captained Pakistan in all formats. He had previously stepped down as captain following Pakistan’s poor performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi succeeded him as T20I captain, but was soon replaced by Babar, who was reappointed captain in March 2024.
However, his second tenure as Pakistan’s captain was not at all successful as the country was knocked out of the group stage of the T20 World Cup in 2024. This campaign saw Pakistan lose to the USA, a much lower ranked team. Pakistan even lost to India despite being in a comfortable position in the match.
Pressure has been mounting on Pakistan cricket in recent months, especially after their Test series loss to Bangladesh at home.
Here is the full text of Babar Azam’s retirement post at X:
“Dear fans,
“I have some news to share with you today. I have decided to resign as the captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, effective from my notification to the PCB and team management last month.
“It has been an honor to lead this team, but it is time to step down and focus on my playing role.
“The captaincy has been a rewarding experience but has added a significant workload. I want to prioritize my performance, enjoy my hitting and spend quality time with my family that brings me joy.
Dear fans,
Today I share news with you. I have decided to resign as the captain of the Pakistan Men’s Cricket Team, effective from my notification to the PCB and the team management last month.
It has been an honor to lead this team, but it is time to step down and focus…
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) October 1, 2024
“By stepping down, I will gain clarity to move forward and focus more energy on my game and personal growth. I am grateful for your unwavering support and belief in me. Your enthusiasm meant the world to me.
“I am proud of what we have achieved together and I am excited to continue to contribute to the team as a player.
Thank you for your love and support.”
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