Star batter Babar Azam has announced his resignation as the white-ball captain of the Pakistan cricket team, paving the way for wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan to potentially take over the captaincy.
This decision has generated considerable discussion about the team’s future direction, especially in light of recent performances.
Babar emphasized his desire to focus on his batting performance, stating that captaincy had added significant workload. He expressed gratitude for the support he received during his tenure and reflected on his experiences leading the team.
In his announcement, he wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“It’s been an honor to lead this team, but it’s time for me to step down and focus on my playing role. I want to prioritize my performance, enjoy my batting, and spend quality time with my family.”
Babar took over the captaincy in 2019 but has not led the team to a major tournament victory during his tenure. Under his leadership, Pakistan faced early exits in the 2022 Asia Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Following the ODI World Cup, Babar briefly resigned from all captaincy roles, and Shaheen Shah Afridi was appointed as T20I captain, only to be removed after losing a series against New Zealand.
The PCB is reportedly in discussions with Rizwan regarding team selection and leadership responsibilities. Rizwan’s leadership capabilities and consistent performance have made him a strong candidate to succeed Babar.
Babar made his Test debut in 2016 and has since played 54 Tests, scoring 3,962 runs at a strike rate of 54.63.
He debuted in ODIs in 2015 and has played 117 matches, amassing 5,729 runs at a strike rate of 88.75.
Since entering T20Is in 2016, he has played 123 matches, scoring 4,145 runs at a strike rate of 129.08.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Pakistan suffered a significant setback, losing their opening match to co-hosts USA, which led to their failure to progress beyond the group stage.
Pakistan is set to face England in a three-match Test series, with the first Test starting on October 7 in Multan. The second Test will also take place in Multan on October 15, followed by the final Test in Rawalpindi from October 24 to 28.
Babar Azam’s decision to step down marks a significant moment for Pakistan cricket, as the team looks to rebuild and refocus ahead of critical matches. The transition in leadership, potentially with Rizwan at the helm, could influence the team’s dynamics and performance in the upcoming Test series against England.
