Babar Azam resigns as Pakistan captain, cites workload among other concerns

After a disappointing show in the ODI World Cup 2023, Babar Azam stepped down as Pakistan captain from all three formats of the game. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) accepted his resignation and appointed Shaheen Shah Afridi as T20I captain and Shan Masood as the Test team captain. However, in just a few month’s time, PCB took a U-turn and once again handed the baton to Babar in white-ball cricket, removing Shaheen from T20I captaincy after just one series.

Under Babar, Pakistan didn’t get any better as they suffered humiliating defeats at the hands of the USA and India in the T20 World Cup 2024. Pakistan were eliminated from the group stage of the competition and soon after that, there were reports of Babar stepping down from the captaincy role yet again.

In the early hours of October 02, Babar himself confirmed the development and decided to relinquish captaincy. Explaining the reason behind the move, the 29-year-old stated that he wants to focus on his workload and batting in the coming times. He also mentioned spending more time with the family, which got difficult for him while captaining the national team.

“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,” Babar wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“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,” he added.

As per reports, Mohammad Rizwan is the favourite to replace Babar in white-ball cricket. He has led Lahore Qalandars in Pakistan Super League (PSL) and has a good track record as captain.