Babar Azam has officially stepped down as the captain of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team, a decision announced on October 1, 2024.
This marks his second resignation from the captaincy in just under a year, following a tumultuous period for both him and the team.
In his statement shared via social media, Babar expressed that he made this decision to prioritize his performance as a player and to find a better balance in his personal life.
He noted, “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”.
His resignation is effective immediately, having informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and team management about his decision last month.
Babar’s captaincy journey has been marked by highs and lows. Initially appointed as captain in 2019, he led Pakistan through various series and tournaments.
However, his leadership faced scrutiny following Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup held in India, where the team failed to progress beyond the group stages.
After that World Cup debacle, Babar briefly resigned from all formats but was reappointed as white-ball captain earlier this year by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Under Babar’s leadership during this second stint, Pakistan had mixed results.
They managed to win a bilateral series against Ireland but struggled against stronger teams, drawing a T20 series against New Zealand and suffering a 2-0 defeat to England prior to the T20 World Cup.
The team’s early exit from the recent T20 World Cup after losses to co-hosts USA and arch-rivals India further intensified calls for change within the leadership structure.
With Babar stepping down, the PCB now faces the challenge of finding a new captain ahead of upcoming tours. Pakistan is set to tour Australia for three ODIs and three T20Is beginning November 4, followed by a home Test series against England starting October 7.
Potential candidates for the captaincy include Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen Afridi.
