Star Pakistan batter Babar Azam shocked the whole cricketing world by announcing his resignation as the team's white-ball captain. The Men in Green side was at the receiving end of harsh criticism for their consistent embarrassing outings in ICC tournaments and bilateral clashes.
Babar Azam wrote on his X account -
"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."
He was earlier Pakistan’s captain across all three formats but stepped down previously after his side’s poor outing at the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.
Premium pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi took over as T20I captain but PCB soon reinstated Babar as the skipper in March citing the T20 World Cup 2024, where their team again suffered an embarrassing exit from the group stage itself following losses against co-host USA and arch-rivals India.
This marks the end of Babar’s second tenure as Pakistan captain. PCB is yet to announced their new white-ball captain. This will be an important decision as they will be hosting the upcoming edition of the Champions Trophy and would like to put on an impressive performance on their home soil. All-rounder Shadab Khan who led Panthers to the Pakistan's Domestic One-Day Cup title is one of the frontrunners for the role.
