Pakistan cricket team's captain and talisman batter Babar Azam has announced that he will step down from captaincy amid concerns of batting form and inconsistent performances.
Babar who was the national team's captain in all three formats, had earlier relinquished his role in the Test format to Shan Masood in November 2023.
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However, with his recent failures with the bat in the T20 World Cup and Test series against Bangladesh has put added pressure on the batter.
Why did Babar Azam quit as captain of Pakistan cricket team?
Taking to the social media platform X (formerly twitter), the Pakistan batter announced that he has resigned from his role as captain of the national team due to "significant workload".
"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," he said in a message to his loyal supporters.
He acknowledged the honour to captain the team but cited workload concerns and plans to focus on his batting, as main reasons for stepping down from the role.
"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 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," he added.
Under his captaincy, Pakistan was able to reach the 2022 T20 World Cup final where they finished as runners-up to England and in the 2021 edition, also broke the loss streak against India in World Cup competitions.
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"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," he concluded
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…
Pakistan is scheduled to next play a three-match Test series at home against England, in October, followed by a white-ball tour of Australia in November for a 3 ODI, 3 T20I series.
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What is Babar Azam's Win-Loss record as Pakistan cricket team captain?
| Format | Matches | Won | Lost | Draw/NR | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 50.00 |
| ODIs | 43 | 26 | 15 | 2 | 61.90 |
| T20Is | 85 | 48 | 30 | 7 | 56.47 |
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