Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has clarified that Babar Azam’s resignation from the white-ball captaincy was his own decision, dispelling rumors of pressure from the board.
Babar, who took over the captaincy in 2019, announced his resignation on October 2, citing a desire to prioritize his performance. Under his leadership, Pakistan failed to win a major tournament, including the Asia Cup and ODI World Cup.
Naqvi emphasized that Babar’s decision was not influenced by the PCB. “Babar Azam told me himself that he did not want to continue as captain. No one from the PCB told him to leave the captaincy. He discussed it with the coaches and wanted to focus on his performances,” Naqvi said.
The PCB chief also explained the appointment of Mohammad Rizwan as the new white-ball skipper. “We spoke to the five mentors of the Champions Cup and the coaches, and the majority agreed that Mohammad Rizwan should be the captain, with Salman Ali Agha as vice-captain,” he added.
Rizwan, a star wicketkeeper-batter, replaces Babar as Pakistan’s white-ball captain ahead of their upcoming tours of Australia and Zimbabwe.
Babar’s resignation has sparked discussions about the future of Pakistan’s cricket team. Some experts believe that the move will allow him to focus on his batting and regain his form. Others argue that it could create instability within the team.
The PCB is now tasked with rebuilding the team and finding a long-term solution for the captaincy. Rizwan’s appointment is seen as a step in that direction, but it remains to be seen whether he can lead Pakistan to success in major tournaments.
