Wed Oct 02 13:19:38 UTC 2024: ## Babar Azam Steps Down as Pakistan Cricket Captain
**Karachi, Pakistan -** Babar Azam has announced his resignation as captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, effective immediately. This marks the second time Babar has stepped down from the captaincy. He will continue to play for the national team, focusing on his batting.
In a statement released on his social media, Babar expressed his desire to relieve some pressure and focus on improving his batting performance. He revealed that he had communicated his decision to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last month.
“It’s been an honor to lead this team,” Babar said, “but it’s time for me to step down and focus on my own game.”
Babar’s decision comes after Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup. He first took on the captaincy in 2019 for the T20 team and later led the Test and ODI teams in 2020.
With Babar’s departure, Mohammad Rizwan is the frontrunner to assume the captaincy duties. Pakistan’s upcoming schedule includes a Test series against England starting October 7, followed by a tour to Australia for three ODIs and three T20s. They will then play Test, ODI, and T20 matches against South Africa in December.
First Piper 