Former South African great AB de Villiers has weighed in on Babar Azam’s recent decision to step down as the captain of Pakistan’s white-ball teams.
Babar, who had stepped down once before after last year’s ODI World Cup, was reappointed as skipper before the T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean.
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AB de Villiers reacts to Babar Azam leaving Pakistan captaincy
De Villiers expressed his support for Babar’s choice and highlighted that this decision could allow the star batter to focus on his game and return to his best form.
Responding to Babar Azam's X post, the South African wrote, “Congrats. You’ve been great. Now for plenty more runs for your team."
Congrats. You’ve been great. Now for plenty more runs for your team💪
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) October 2, 2024
Why did Babar Azam step down as captain?
Babar Azam’s resignation came after a series of disappointing performances from the team under his leadership, especially in major tournaments.
While he had a successful stint as a captain previously, the recent T20 World Cup failure put his role under heavy scrutiny. Babar himself faced a dip in form, which made him reconsider his responsibilities.
In a detailed statement shared on his social media, Babar revealed that he informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and team management of his decision in September.
He explained that the captaincy had increased his workload and affected his batting performance. The 29-year-old now wants to focus on contributing to the team purely as a player.
Who could replace Babar as Pakistan’s next white-ball captain?
With Babar stepping down, the focus has shifted to finding his successor. The PCB will now look at potential candidates to lead the team in the white-ball formats.
While Babar was a consistent captain, there are a few notable names who could take up the role. The list of potential successors includes Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Shadab Khan, all of whom have led domestic or international sides before.
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Despite the recent downturn, Babar Azam still holds an impressive record as Pakistan’s captain. He led the team to 84 wins across formats, making him one of the most successful leaders in Pakistan cricket history.
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