In a decisive turn of events following the dismal performance in the World Cup 2023, Pakistan’s cricket captain Babar Azam has announced his resignation from the leadership role across all formats. As the national team looks to rebuild, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed Shan Masood as the captain for Test cricket and anointed Shaheen Afridi to lead the T20I squad, while Mohammad Hafeez is set to take over as the new Director of Pakistan Men’s team, replacing Mickey Arthur.
“After a period of soul searching and reflection upon the World Cup campaign that did not meet our collective expectations, I have decided to step down as the captain of Pakistan in all formats,” Babar shared on the social media platform X. His message conveyed both a heartfelt thank you to the PCB for the opportunity to lead and an assurance of unwavering support for his successors. The announcement came during a time of palpable uncertainty for Pakistan cricket, with Babar conceding, “It’s a difficult decision, but I feel it is the right time for this call.”
The national side struggled to find form in the global tournament, securing only four victories in nine encounters, a performance that saw them bow out early and drew sharp criticism towards Babar. Particularly poignant was the defeat against Afghanistan, where Babar appeared markedly isolated and under pressure. A notable decline in his usually stellar batting contributed to the sobering statistics, with just 320 runs at a subpar average of 40 and a modest strike rate of 82.90.
Babar ascended to the position of white-ball captain in 2019, taking over from Sarfaraz Ahmed, and later assumed the Test captaincy in 2021. His tenure saw Pakistan reaching the finals of both the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup in 2022. Under his stewardship, the ODI team briefly enjoyed the summit of the ICC rankings. Despite these peaks, the recent World Cup, held in India, unravelled the fabric of Pakistan cricket, expediting the need for change.
The World Cup campaign opened with promise as Pakistan claimed wins against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. However, a string of four defeats derailed their momentum. Although they endeavored to revive their fortunes with subsequent victories over Bangladesh and New Zealand, it was not enough to salvage their global aspirations.
In the aftermath, tensions within the team surfaced publicly, and the team’s chief selector Inzamam Ul Haq resigned amid conflict of interest allegations regarding World Cup squad selections. Further unsettling the PCB, bowling coach Morne Morkel submitted his resignation, which led to the revelation that the coaching staff would be undergoing an extensive overhaul. The PCB revealed in a statement that “all coaches will continue to work in National Cricket Academy while PCB will announce the new coaching staff in due course for the upcoming series in Australia and New Zealand.”
The restructuring also signifies the departure of other key coaching personnel, including head coach Grant Bradburn and batting coach Andrew Puttick, who were at the helm during the World Cup.
This radical modification in leadership and support staff represents a significant shift in the structure of Pakistan cricket. With new captains at the forefront and a fresh directorial perspective, Pakistan cricket hopes to navigate beyond the recent adversities. As Babar Azam continues to don the national colors as a dedicated player, Shan Masood, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Hafeez are tasked with steering Pakistan cricket towards a brighter future, starting with the anticipated series in Australia and New Zealand. The board’s decision to revamp the coaching rosters embodies a proactive approach to not only address the current challenges but also to lay the groundwork for a more successful and resilient Pakistan cricket team.