Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam has once again found himself in the spotlight after announcing his resignation as the white-ball captain of the national team. This is the second time in 12 months that Babar Azam has stepped down from the role, drawing sharp criticism from a section of fans who were quick to mock his leadership record, pointing out that despite his two resignations, he has yet to secure an ICC trophy for Pakistan.
Babar Azam made the announcement late on October 1 via Twitter, stating that he wanted to focus more on his personal performance and reduce the burden of captaincy. The decision, however, did not sit well with some Pakistani cricket fans, who were vocal on social media about Babar Azam ‘s failure to deliver in major international tournaments. Many pointed to Pakistan’s underwhelming performances under his leadership, particularly their early exits in the group stages of the ODI and T20 World Cups. Babar Azam ‘s own form has also come under scrutiny, with his batting dipping across all three formats during this challenging period.
Despite leading Pakistan to the semi-final of the 2021 T20 World Cup and a runner-up finish in the 2022 edition, Babar Azam ‘s leadership has been under continuous pressure. Since the 2022 World Cup, the Pakistan team has struggled to maintain consistent performances, both at home and on overseas tours. This decline has led to growing dissatisfaction among fans and experts alike.
With Babar Azam ’s resignation, the question of who will take over as Pakistan’s captain in the shorter formats looms large. Pakistan’s upcoming ODI series against Australia, set to begin on November 4, leaves the team with little time to settle on a new leader. Possible candidates include Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Rizwan.
Shaheen Afridi, who had previously replaced Babar Azam as T20I captain, saw brief success in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with the Lahore Qalandars, but was removed from the national captaincy after a series loss to New Zealand. Shadab Khan has also had success in the PSL, winning the 2024 Champions Cup with Islamabad United, but his inconsistent performances in the ODI World Cup 2023 have cast doubts on his ability to secure a permanent spot in the national side. Mohammad Rizwan, although relatively inexperienced as a captain in ODIs and T20Is, is seen as a strong contender due to his leadership in the PSL and his captaincy experience in Test matches.
As Pakistan prepares for its tour of Australia, the team faces an uncertain future without Babar Azam at the helm. The decision on his successor will play a crucial role in shaping the national team’s prospects in the months ahead.
