Babar Azam has stepped down as the captain of Pakistan’s ODI and T20I teams, citing his desire to manage his workload and focus on contributing to the team as a batter ¹ ². This isn’t the first time he’s made this decision, though – he previously stepped down as captain after the 2023 ODI World Cup, only to be reappointed six months later ² ³ ⁴.
Babar led Pakistan in 43 ODIs, winning 26 and losing 15, and in 85 T20Is, winning 48 and losing 29 ². Despite his impressive record, he feels that stepping down will allow him to prioritize his performance, enjoy his batting, and spend quality time with his family ².
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has acknowledged Babar’s decision, praising his professionalism and commitment to Pakistan cricket ¹. They’ve tasked the national selection committee with finding a new captain and formulating future white-ball cricket strategies ¹.
Now, the focus shifts to who will take over as captain and how Babar will perform in his new role as a senior player. Pakistan’s next challenge is a 3-match home Test series against England, starting October 7 ²
