In a significant announcement on Wednesday, Babar Azam revealed his decision to step down from his role as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team across all formats. This news broke on the popular social media platform X (formerly Twitter), shortly after his meeting with Zaka Ashraf, Chairman of the Interim Management Committee at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in Lahore.
While the PCB urged Babar to continue as the Test captain, his relinquishment of the white-ball cricket captaincy was confirmed. Reflecting on his journey, Babar expressed, “I vividly remember the moment when I received the call from PCB to lead Pakistan in 2019. Over the past four years, I’ve experienced many highs and lows on and off the field, but I wholeheartedly aimed to maintain Pakistan’s pride and respect in the cricket world.”
Acknowledging the collective efforts of players, coaches, and management, Babar credited the passionate Pakistan cricket fans for their unwavering support in achieving the number one spot in white-ball cricket. However, he declared, “Today, I am stepping down as the captain of Pakistan in all formats. It’s a difficult decision but the right time for this call. I will continue to represent Pakistan as a player in all three formats, supporting the new captain and the team with my experience and dedication.”
READ MORE: Hafeez Cheers as Virat Kohli Hits 50th ODI Century in Semi Finals
Expressing gratitude to the Pakistan Cricket Board for entrusting him with this significant responsibility, Babar concluded his statement. Notably, Babar first assumed the T20 captaincy in 2019 before leading the Test and ODI teams in 2020.
While the exact reason for Babar’s decision remains unspecified, it follows the team’s disappointing performance in the World Cup. The Green Shirts faced setbacks in five out of nine games, including a notable seven-wicket defeat by India in Ahmedabad, witnessed by over 100,000 fans. Additionally, Pakistan experienced an unprecedented loss to Afghanistan during this tournament.
