Babar Azam steps down as Pakistan white-ball captain

Pakistan's captaincy scenario is set to see another twist with batting mainstay Babar Azam announcing his resignation from limited-overs captaincy.

The 29-year-old was removed as Pakistan's white-ball captain after the team's underwhelming campaign at the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, after a period of just three months, Babar found himself reappointed for the job in March 2024.

Babar's second stint started in chaos as Pakistan crashed out of the T20 World Cup in the group stages with the defeat to USA being the main low for the side. The loss to arch-rivals India, after being in pole position, was also a talking point.

The latest development, therefore, doesn't quite come as a surprise, given the general trends in Pakistan cricket. The Test side recently lost to Bangladesh for the first time in history and Pakistan's overall morale as an international side hasn't been at its highest.

Babar took to the social networking site 'X' to make the announcement public and felt that it was time for him to give the entire focus on his batting. Pakistan's talisman batter has had an underwhelming time through the 2023-24 season with the numbers and impact not being to the levels he has been known for.

""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 immediate white-ball assignments include tours of Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa through the next six months. Shaheen Afridi replaced Babar as the T20I captain after his previous stint ended but the left-arm pacer was also unceremoniously removed from captaincy, and this raises debates on who Pakistan's new white-ball captain could be. Pakistan haven't played an ODI since the 2023 World Cup.