Babar Azam Steps Down as Pakistan’s White-Ball Captain

Babar Azam, the 29-year-old cricketer, has decided to step down from his role as Pakistan’s white-ball captain to concentrate on his performance as a player. Since taking on the captaincy in 2019, Babar led his nation in 20 Tests, 43 ODIs, and 85 T20Is. He was removed from the captaincy across all formats in November 2023, but a leadership shift at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) led to his reinstatement as the limited-overs captain in May. However, less than six months later, after Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup in June, Babar chose to relinquish the role.

Announcing his decision on the social media platform X, Babar explained that while it had been an honour to lead the team, he felt it was time to step back and focus more on his own playing career. He acknowledged that the responsibilities of captaincy, though rewarding, had added considerable pressure, and he now wanted to prioritise his personal performance, enjoy batting, and spend more time with his family. 

Babar noted that stepping down would give him a clearer path forward, allowing him to channel more energy into improving his game and fostering personal growth. Reflecting on his captaincy, he expressed pride in the team's accomplishments, including reaching the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup and making the semi-finals in the previous edition. He also expressed gratitude for the unwavering support he had received from fans and looked forward to continuing to contribute to the team as a player.

With 31 centuries to his name across all formats, Babar remains an integral part of Pakistan’s squad and will feature in the upcoming three-Test series against England, beginning on 7 October. Shan Masood, who replaced Babar as the Test captain, will continue to lead the red-ball side. As Pakistan’s next white-ball series against Australia approaches in November, the PCB has yet to announce a new captain following Babar’s departure from the leadership role.