Star Pakistan batter Babar Azam has announced his resignation from the limited-overs captaincy, adding another twist to the story of Pakistan's captaincy. The 29-year-old's stint as Pakistan's white-ball skipper came to an end following the team's disappointing 2023 ODI World Cup campaign. Babar, however, was reappointed to the position in March 2024, having only been there for three months.
The primary low point for Pakistan during Babar's second spell was the team's loss to the United States, which caused them to fall out of the T20 World Cup in the group stages. Another topic of conversation was the defeat by bitter rivals India, despite holding the lead. Therefore, considering the overall patterns in Pakistani cricket, the most recent occurrence is not entirely surprising. Pakistan's international team morale has not been at its best, as they just suffered their first-ever Test match defeat to Bangladesh.
Babar announces resignation
"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 prioritise my performance, enjoy my batting, and spend quality time with my family, which brings me joy," Babar wrote from his official 'X' account.
"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," he added.
AB de Villiers react to Babar Azam's resignation
Former South African AB de Villiers praised Babar Azam and said that he has been great and told him it is time to get more runs for his team. "Congrats. You’ve been great. Now for plenty more runs for your team," replied De Villers to Babar's tweet.
