Babar Azam Resigns as Pakistan’s White-Ball Captain Amid Leadership Reshuffle

LAHORE — Pakistan cricket’s star batter, Babar Azam, has stepped down from his role as captain of the national white-ball teams, a decision that has taken the cricketing world by surprise. In a social media statement on Tuesday, Babar announced his resignation, stating that while it had been an honor to lead the side, he now wishes to focus more on his playing role and personal growth.“It’s been a privilege to captain this team, but I feel it’s the right time for me to step down and focus on my performance and well-being,” Babar said. The decision comes in the wake of Pakistan’s disappointing campaign at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, where they failed to reach the later stages of the tournament.Despite the official statement, sources suggest that additional factors played a role in Babar’s decision. Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, Gary Kirsten, had reportedly recommended Babar to continue leading the ODI side but was in favor of replacing him as the T20I captain following the World Cup. Kirsten is said to have submitted a detailed report to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) outlining possible changes in leadership, which he discussed with Babar.Rather than continuing in the ODI leadership role, Babar opted to relinquish the captaincy in both formats. According to insiders, Babar made his intentions clear to a top PCB official before publicly announcing his resignation.In the wake of Babar’s decision, sources indicate that wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan has emerged as the front-runner to take over as captain. PCB officials are reportedly in discussions with Rizwan to explore his potential leadership role and to finalize team selections moving forward.Babar’s tenure as Pakistan’s white-ball captain was marked by both triumphs and challenges. His decision to step down signals a shift in the team’s leadership, but Babar emphasized that the burden of captaincy had become overwhelming. “I want to enjoy my batting again, spend quality time with my family, and focus on what brings me joy,” he stated in his Instagram post.While Babar’s departure as captain may leave a gap in Pakistan’s leadership, fans and cricket analysts are eager to see how Mohammad Rizwan will step up, and how this leadership change will impact Pakistan cricket’s future.