Pakistan’s white-ball captain Babar Azam on Tuesday, announced to step down from the role with immediate effect.
In a detailed statement, issued on his social media platforms, the right-handed batter shared he made the decision to focus on his “playing role”.
“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,” stated Babar.
“It’s been an honour to lead this team, but it’s time for me to step down and focus on my playing role,” he added.
Babar Azam termed his time as Pakistan captain a rewarding experience but claimed it added workload for the star batter, who wants to enjoy his batting.
“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.”
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Remember, this was Babar Azam’s second reign as Pakistan captain. His first tenure ended in November 2023 following Pakistan’s dismal run at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India.
The star batter relinquished all-format captaincy but was reinstated as white-ball captain in March this year. He led Pakistan in three bilateral T20I series against New Zealand, Ireland and England respectively before captaining the former champions in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Pakistan had a lacklustre outing in the mega event as the 2009 champions, in a first, crashed out of the tournament from the group stage, mainly due to their gut-wrenching defeats against the United States of America (USA) and arch-rivals India.