Babar Azam has stepped down as white-ball captain of Pakistan’s cricket team for the second time in under a year, citing a desire to reduce his workload and concentrate on his batting. In a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), Babar announced that he had informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last month of his decision to relinquish the white-ball captaincy to focus on his performance and spend more time with his family.
“I have decided to resign as captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team,” Babar wrote. “It’s been an honor to lead this team, but it’s time for me to step down and focus on my playing role. Captaincy has been rewarding but has added significant pressure. By stepping down, I will gain clarity and focus more on my game and personal growth.”
Expressing his gratitude to fans and teammates, Babar added, “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and excited to continue contributing as a player. Your support has meant everything to me.”
This resignation comes six months after Babar was reappointed as the captain of Pakistan’s white-ball teams. His first resignation, after the team’s disappointing performance in the ODI World Cup in India last year, saw Shaheen Afridi briefly take the reins in T20Is. However, Babar returned as captain just four months later, following Afridi’s short-lived tenure, which ended after a single T20I series.
While Babar’s initial stint as captain featured several high points such as series victories over South Africa and Australia, as well as deep runs in the T20 World Cups, his second tenure was less successful. Pakistan won only six of 13 T20Is during this period and endured a poor T20 World Cup campaign, suffering early elimination after losses to the USA and India. Notably, despite being officially appointed to lead in both T20Is and ODIs, Babar did not captain Pakistan in any 50-over matches during his second term.
The PCB has yet to comment on Babar’s resignation. Pakistan’s next white-ball series is scheduled for next month in Australia, where they will play three T20Is and three ODIs.
