Babar Azam Steps Down as Pakistan Cricket Team Captain After Disappointing ODI World Cup 2023 Campaign
Lahore, 15th November 2023: In a surprising move, Babar Azam, the charismatic captain of the Pakistan cricket team, has announced his retirement from captaincy across all formats. This decision comes in the aftermath of Pakistan’s unanticipated exit from the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 during the league stage, where they failed to secure a spot in the knockout rounds.
Pakistan were considered one of the favourites before the tournament and faced severe criticism for their underperformance. Placed fifth in the points table, they fell short of the qualifying spots for the knockout stage. Babar Azam, who took on the captaincy role in 2019, has been under scrutiny along with the entire team.
Expressing his thoughts on the decision, Babar Azam took to the microblogging platform ‘X’ to make the announcement. His post read, “I vividly remember the moment when I received the call from PCB to lead Pakistan in 2019. Over the past four years, I’ve experienced many highs and lows on and off the field, but I wholeheartedly and passionately aimed to maintain Pakistan’s pride and respect in the cricket world.”
The post continued, “Reaching the number 1 spot in the white-ball format was a result of the collective efforts of players, coaches, and management, but I’d like to express my gratitude to passionate Pakistan cricket fans for their unwavering support during this journey.”
Babar Azam acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but emphasized that it was the right time for this call. He stated, “Today, I am stepping down as the captain of Pakistan in all formats. I will continue to represent Pakistan as a player in all three formats. I am here to support the new captain and the team with my experience and dedication.”
Expressing his thanks to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Babar Azam concluded the post with the patriotic slogan, “PAKISTAN ZINDABAD,” signifying his commitment to continue contributing to the team as a player.
The PCB has yet to announce Babar Azam’s successor as captain, and cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the developments that will shape the future of Pakistan cricket leadership.
