Babar Azam Set To Step Down As White-Ball Captain After WC 2023

image-lotm98rlBabar Azam ahead of ENG-PAK in Kolkata (AP Photo)

Pakistan's all-format captain Babar Azam is contemplating stepping down, particularly from leading the white-ball cricket team. 

This consideration follows Pakistan's disappointing performance in the ICC World Cup 2023. The team, led by Babar Azam, faces the looming possibility of not making it to the semi-finals, having secured victories in four matches but also encountering defeats against India, Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan. 

Victories over the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and New Zealand offer a silver lining. With an opportunity to conclude the campaign with 10 points, concerns arise due to the net run-rate. To surpass the BlackCaps, Pakistan need a significant victory against England, when they take on the defending champions on November 11 in Kolkata.

The decision regarding Babar's captaincy future will be influenced by consultations upon his return to Pakistan. Dissatisfied with the conduct of the PCB and former cricketers, he has received counsel from close associates advising him to step down from leadership across all three formats.

Sources suggest that this advice is rooted in the belief that prominent captains have faced challenges in Test series in Australia. Consequently, individuals within Babar's inner circle recommend that he steps down from captaincy roles in both red and white-ball cricket. Although initially planning to make this decision while in India, Babar has chosen to postpone it, opting to finalise his choice upon returning to his home country.

Simultaneously, the PCB is considering reinstating Sarfaraz Ahmed as the Test captain, inspired by his recent leadership success in leading Karachi to victory in the 2023–24 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. This potential dual transition indicates a significant restructuring in Pakistan's cricket leadership, encompassing changes in both white-ball and Test captaincy roles.