Babar Azam has resigned for the second time as Pakistan’s captain, with Mohammad Rizwan likely to take over in limited-overs formats later this month.
Babar issued a statement on X (previously Twitter) at midnight on Wednesday (2 October 2024), announcing that he had notified the Pakistan Cricket Board and team management of his decision to resign sometime last month. While he did not specify when he told the board and team management of his desire to quit, the 29-year-old stated that he wanted to focus on his batting while reducing his burden as captain.
Dear Fans,
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) October 1, 2024
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…
“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,” Babar wrote on X.
“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 had stepped down as Pakistan’s captain following their poor performance in the ODI World Cup in India 2023, but he was reinstated as captain in white-ball formats in March 2024.
However, his second term did not improve the team’s fortunes or Babar’s leadership, as Pakistan performed miserably in the T20 World Cup in America in June, losing to the USA and India, failing to advance to the Super Eight stage.
Babar said captaincy had been a “rewarding experience” but also added a “significant workload” for him.
“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,” he said.
“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.
Babar was appointed T20 captain in 2019, before assuming leadership of the Test and ODI squads in 2020.
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Source: The Hindu
