Pakistan will have a new skipper after Babar Azam stepped down as captain in all three formats. Babar was under tremendous pressure to resign from his position after a poor World Cup outing, which saw them finish 5th and miss out on a semifinal spot.
Babar first took over the captaincy duties in 2019. His crowning moment came when Pakistan became the No. 1 side in ODIs during his tenure.
The 29-year-old announced his decision to relinquish captaincy in a post on social media platform X, where he wrote, "I vividly remember the moment when I received the call from PCB to lead Pakistan in 2019. Over the past four years, I've experienced many highs and lows on and off the field, but I wholeheartedly and passionately aimed to maintain Pakistan's pride and respect in the cricket world.
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"Reaching the number 1 spot in the white-ball format was a result of the collective efforts of players, coaches, and management but I'd like to express my gratitude to passionate Pakistan cricket fans for their unwavering support during this journey.
"Today, I am stepping down as the captain of Pakistan in all formats. It's a difficult decision but I feel it is a right time for this call.
I will continue to represent Pakistan as a player in all three formats. I am here to support the new captain and the team with my experience and dedication.
I want to express my sincere thanks to the Pakistan Cricket Board for entrusting me with this significant responsibility."
Babar's decision to step down as captain follows a number of departures from the Pakistan cricket setup. Earlier, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq and bowling coach Morne Morkel had resigned, while the Pakistan Cricket Board had sacked the entire selection committee after a disappointing show at the Cricket World Cup.
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