Star batter Babar Azam has formally resigned as the captain of the team, as revealed in his official statement.
Having assumed the captaincy across all three formats since October 2019, Babar Azam played a pivotal role in guiding Pakistan to the number one spot in the ICC one-day international (ODI) rankings in May, marking a historic achievement for the team under his leadership.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially appointed opening batter Shan Masood as the new Test captain, while pacer Shaheen Afridi will lead the team in the Twenty20 (T20) format.
Following Pakistan’s descent to the fourth position in the Asia Cup and fifth in the World Cup, these captaincy changes have been introduced in a bid to rejuvenate the team’s performance.
Expressing the difficulty of the decision, 29-year-old Shan Masood conveyed through Twitter, “I believe it is the right time for this decision. I will remain an active player for Pakistan in all three formats. My commitment and experience are at the service of the new captain and the team.”
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) November 15, 2023
Just two days following the resignation of Pakistan’s bowling coach, captain Babar Azam has also stepped down.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) accepted Azam’s resignation after consultation with his family, expressing support for his decision in an official statement.
Ranked as a top-five batsman in all three formats by the ICC, Babar Azam holds the distinction of being Pakistan’s most successful captain in T20 Internationals, boasting 42 wins under his leadership.
As the team ready for a challenging tour of Australia, featuring three Tests commencing in Perth on December 12, the resignation adds a layer of complexity to Pakistan’s cricket landscape.
Pakistan faces an overwhelming record in Australia, having lost their last 14 Tests in the country, with their most recent victory dating back to 1995. The upcoming tour will be closely watched as the team seeks to turn the tide and achieve success on Australian ground.
