On Wednesday, Babar Azam declared his decision to resign as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team in all formats.


On Wednesday, Babar Azam announced his resignation as the Pakistan cricket captain across all formats. The announcement was made on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) shortly after a meeting with Zaka Ashraf, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket
  • On Wednesday, Babar Azam announced his resignation as the Pakistan cricket captain across all formats. The announcement was made on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) shortly after a meeting with Zaka Ashraf, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Interim Management Committee in Lahore.

 

  • According to the PCB, Babar was asked to continue as the Test captain after being relieved of the captaincy in white-ball cricket. In his statement, Babar expressed gratitude to the PCB for entrusting him with the captaincy, recalling his journey since receiving the call to lead Pakistan in 2019. He acknowledged the highs and lows both on and off the field and credited the collective efforts of players, coaches, and management for reaching the number one spot in white-ball cricket.

 

  • Babar did not specify a reason for stepping down but emphasized that it's the right time for the decision. He expressed difficulty in making the choice but affirmed his commitment to continue representing Pakistan as a player in all three formats, offering support to the new captain and the team with his experience and dedication.

 

  • The PCB subsequently appointed Shan Masood as the Test captain and Shaheen Shah Afridi as the T20 captain. Mohammad Hafeez was named the team director in a separate press release. The PCB also mentioned changes in the coaching staff, with further announcements expected for the upcoming series in Australia and New Zealand.

 

  • The decision comes following Pakistan's disappointing performance in the World Cup, where they lost five out of nine games, including a significant defeat against India and an unexpected loss to Afghanistan.

 

  • Babar's meeting with Zaka Ashraf was described as "cordial," and the PCB supported his decision to step down. Ashraf praised Babar as a world-class player and emphasized the board's commitment to supporting him without the additional burden of captaincy, allowing him to focus on his performance.

 

  • Several players, including the new T20 captain Shaheen, Muhammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, and others, expressed their admiration for Babar's leadership and wished him success in his future endeavors. The International Cricket Council (ICC) described it as the "end of an era" for Pakistan.

 

The PCB had initiated discussions with former players, including Younis Khan, Wahab Riaz, and Sohail Tanvir, as part of an inquest into Pakistan's World Cup performance and plans for the upcoming Test series against Australia. The players reportedly advised against wholesale changes and suggested a focus on red-ball cricket, with potential coaching assignments for former players like Younis Khan to groom youngsters in Karachi.