Babar’s second stint on the captaincy noticed Pakistan lose seven matches and has coincided with a poor run of his batting type.
Babar Azam has resigned as Pakistan’s white-ball cricket captain for a second time in 11 months, citing a necessity to reduce his workload and give attention to enhancing his sport.
Babar stepped down as captain of all three codecs final 12 months after Pakistan didn’t make the knockout stage of the ICC Cricket World Cup in India, earlier than returning as white-ball skipper in March forward of the ICC T20 World Cup in the USA (USA) and West Indies, the place Pakistan didn’t make it previous the opening group stage.
“It’s been an honour to guide this crew, nevertheless it’s time for me to step down and give attention to my taking part in position,” Babar wrote in a publish on X on Tuesday.
“Captaincy has been a rewarding expertise, nevertheless it’s added a big workload. I wish to prioritise my efficiency, get pleasure from my batting, and spend high quality time with my household, which brings me pleasure.
“By stepping down, I’ll achieve readability shifting ahead and focus extra vitality on my sport and private progress.”
Pricey Followers,
I am sharing some information with you at this time. I’ve determined to resign as captain of the Pakistan males’s cricket crew, efficient as of my notification to the PCB and Crew Administration final month.
It has been an honour to guide this crew, nevertheless it’s time for me to step down and focus…
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) October 1, 2024
Pakistan gained simply six of the 13 Twenty20 worldwide (T20I) matches they performed underneath Babar in his second stint. Pakistan haven’t performed a one-day worldwide (ODI) match for the reason that 2023 World Cup.
Shaheen Shah Afridi led Pakistan briefly within the T20 format however was faraway from the captaincy after Pakistan misplaced 4-1 to New Zealand.
Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), reappointed Babar as white-ball captain in March, however he might solely win a bilateral sequence towards Eire 2-1.
Pakistan drew the house T20 sequence towards New Zealand 2-2 earlier than shedding 2-0 to England simply earlier than the Twenty20 World Cup, the place the 2009 champions have been concerned within the match’s largest upset after they have been overwhelmed by hosts and debutants USA.
Pakistan will host England in three Exams beginning Monday, earlier than travelling to Australia for ODI and T20 matches in November.
Babar has seen a dip in his batting type throughout all codecs and has failed to attain a world fifty in his final 10 innings.
The 29-year-old has been named in Pakistan’s squad to face England in a three-match Take a look at sequence, which begins in Multan on October 7.
Take a look at captain Shan Masood, who took over when Babar give up in November, has backed Babar to be among the many runs within the upcoming sequence.
“Everyone knows Babar is among the prime batters on the planet and regardless of not scoring large runs the nice factor is that he’s not off form, we’ve to again him,” Masood stated in his pre-series information convention on Monday.
The PCB is predicted to call a brand new skipper after the Take a look at sequence as Pakistan’s subsequent white-ball tour might be towards 50-over world champions Australia subsequent month.
