In the recent turn of events a big setback has struck Pakistan Cricket with batter Babar Azam stepping down from the captaincy of the limited overs.
Babar Azam Resigns From White-Ball Captaincy
The 29-year-old cricketer was first removed from being the white-ball captain following a poor performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup. But he was reinstated as the captain after his short stint in March 2024.
But his second stint here soon went haywire, ending with early exit from the T20 World Cup. A couple of talks never to forget were Pakistan's defeat to the USA and a mishap while being in a good position against rivals India.
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Seeing the current form of Pakistan's Team, and the constant defeats, this decision wasn't exactly shocking. The test team, too, suffered through an infamous defeat against Bangladesh and was a low given the norm of low morale that travels with the team.
Babar Azam To Focus On His Performance
Posting the news on the social media platform 'X', Babar said that he needed to focus solely on his batting. His performances with the bat are not up to the mark as compared to previous seasons, and so, hence he had decided to keep away from captaincy.
"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.," Babar wrote.
"It's been an honour to lead this team, but it's time for me to step down and focus on my playing role. Captaincy has been a rewarding experience, but it's added a significant workload. I want to prioritise 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."
Pakistan's schedule in the next six months is quite packed, with upcoming assignment of Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. But a bigger question that arises is that who'll be filling in the shoes of Babar and take Pakistan's white-ball captaincy.