Babar Azam Steps Down from Captaincy, Micky Arthur Replaced with Mohammad Hafeez
Babar Azam, the prolific batsman and captain of the Pakistan cricket team, has resigned from his captaincy role after Pakistan’s failure to advance from the group stage at the Cricket World Cup. The decision, though difficult, marks the end of Azam’s four-year tenure as the captain in all formats in which he retained over 50% winning record across all three formats.
New Leadership Unveiled: Shan Masood and Shaheen Afridi Take Charge
The Pakistan Cricket Board swiftly responded to Babar Azam’s resignation by appointing Shan Masood as the new test captain. Masood, a left-handed opener, is set to lead the team through the World Test Championship cycle of 2023-25, with his first challenge being the upcoming tour to Australia.
Additionally, left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has been named the T20 captain, tasked with leading the team in a five-match T20 series in New Zealand in January. The talk about putting Shaheen as T20 captain was up and about for a long time. The PCB, however, has kept the suspense alive regarding the new ODI skipper, promising an announcement in due course.
Babar Azam’s Legacy and the Path Ahead for Pakistan Cricket
Babar Azam, in a statement expressing gratitude to the PCB, recalled the moment he received the call to lead Pakistan in 2019. “It’s a difficult decision but I feel it is a right time for this call,” Babar Azam said in a message shared on X.
“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.”
Despite facing highs and lows on and off the field, he passionately aimed to uphold Pakistan’s pride and respect in the cricket world. During his captaincy, Pakistan attained the No. 1 spot in the ODI rankings, but a sharp decline in performance marred their journey leading up to the World Cup.
The absence of injured fast bowler Naseem Shah further exacerbated Pakistan’s struggles, leading to criticism from former test cricketers.
Teammate Mohammad Rizwan, however, took to social media to praise Babar Azam, acknowledging him as one of the greatest batsmen Pakistan has ever seen. Rizwan highlighted Azam’s honesty, love, integrity, thoughts, and efforts for Pakistan as the captain, wishing him continued success.
In midst midst of a transition period for Pakistan cricket team, the PCB announced a planned overhaul of the coaching staff for the upcoming twin tours of Australia and New Zealand. The resignation of fast bowling coach Morne Morkel, with one month left on his contract, adds to the changes.
Meanwhile, Director of Cricket Mickey Arthur has been replaced by former test captain of Pakistan Mohammad Hafeez who was quite vocal with his criticism about Pakistan’s performance in World Cup 2023.
