'Significant workload': Babar Azam announces decision to resign as Pakistan white-ball captain

Amid controversies, Babar Azam on late Tuesday announced decision to step down from captain's position of Pakistan men's cricket team, saying he wanted to focus on his playing role in future matches.

"I am sharing some news with you today. I have decided to resign as captain of the Pakistan men's cricket team, effective as of my notification to the PCB and Team Management last month. It's been an honour to lead this team, but it's time for me to step down and focus on my playing role," said Azam in a post on X.

"Captaincy has been a rewarding experience. But it's added a significant workload. I want to prioritize my performance, enjoy my batting, and spend quality time with my family, which brings me joy. By stepping down, I will gain clarity moving forward and focus more energy on my game and personal growth. I'm grateful for your unwavering support and belief in me. Your enthusiasm has meant the world to me. I'm proud of what we've achieved together and excited to continue contributing to the team as a player. Thank you for your love and support," added Azam further in his resignation post.



Pakistan are yet to win a major tournament since appointing Babar as the captain for the first time in 2019. Last year, under Babar's captaincy, Pakistan crashed out of the Asia Cup in the Super 4 after Sri Lanka inflicted a two-wicket defeat in Colombo.

A couple of months later, Pakistan's struggling form continued, and they failed to reach the knockout stage of the ODI World Cup in India.

After the conclusion of the marquee event, Babar stepped down from the captaincy of all formats. Shaheen Shah Afridi took over as T20I captain but was removed after just one series in charge against New Zealand, which Pakistan lost by 4-1.

Babar was reinstated as the white-ball captain, and Shan Masood retained the Test captaincy.

In the T20 World Cup, once again, it was a no-show from Pakistan. They lost their maiden T20I clash against the co-hosts, the USA, on a tricky surface in New York. The surprising defeat proved vital as their campaign ended in the group stage.

(with agency inputs)