THESE two skippers give up captaincy, one of them is arch-rival of Team India…
Tuesday night was a big one for two top cricket nations in the world as their skippers decided to step down from captaincy. One of them is from Team India’s arch-rivals Pakistan – with Babar Azam announcing his decision to give up limited-overs captaincy late on Tuesday night.
Apart from Babar, New Zealand captain Tim Southee has also stepped down from his position ahead of three-match Test series against Rohit Sharma’s Indian cricket team later this month. Southee gave up the Test captaincy after his side’s 2-0 whitewash against Sri Lanka last month and opening batter Tom Latham will take over the job in place of the veteran pacer.
Babar announced that he will step down as the white-ball captain of the Pakistan cricket team to ‘prioritise’ his performance. Pakistan has not won a major tournament during Babar’s tenure as captain, which began in 2019. Last year, under his leadership, Pakistan was eliminated from the Asia Cup in the Super 4 stage after a two-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka in Colombo.
A few months later, Pakistan’s struggles continued as they failed to reach the knockout stage of the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Following the conclusion of the World Cup, Babar resigned from the captaincy in all formats. Shaheen Shah Afridi was appointed as the T20I captain but was removed after just one series, which Pakistan lost 4-1 to New Zealand.
Babar was subsequently reinstated as the white-ball captain, while Shan Masood remained the Test captain. In a statement on his official ‘X’ account, Babar expressed that it had been an honour to lead the Pakistan men’s cricket team.
He stated that stepping down from the captaincy would give him clarity and allow him to focus on his personal growth and performance.
“Dear fans, I’m sharing some news with you today. I have decided to resign as captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, effective as of my notification to the PCB and Team Management last month. It’s been an honour to lead this team, but it’s time for me to step down and focus on my playing role. Captaincy has been a rewarding experience, but it’s added a significant workload. I want to prioritise my performance, enjoy my batting, and spend quality time with my family, which brings me joy. By stepping down, I will gain clarity moving forward and focus more energy on my game and personal growth. I’m grateful for your unwavering support and belief in me. Your enthusiasm has meant the world to me. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and excited to continue contributing to the team as a player. Thank you for your love and support,” Babar wrote on X.
Dear Fans,
I’m sharing some news with you today. I have decided to resign as captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, effective as of my notification to the PCB and Team Management last month.
It’s been an honour to lead this team, but it’s time for me to step down and focus…
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) October 1, 2024
Babar made his Test debut in 2016 against the West Indies and has since played 54 matches, scoring 3,962 runs at a strike rate of 54.63. He played his first ODI in 2015 against Zimbabwe, featuring in 117 matches and scoring 5,729 runs at a strike rate of 88.75.
Since debuting in T20Is in 2016 against England, Babar has played 123 matches, amassing 4,145 runs at a strike rate of 129.08. In the T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan suffered a disappointing campaign, losing their opening match to co-hosts USA on a tricky surface in New York. This surprise defeat proved crucial as they failed to progress beyond the group stage.
Tim Southee steps down as Test captain
Southee stepped down from his role as New Zealand’s Test captain and wicketkeeper-batter Tom Latham will be leading the team during their three-match Test series against India away from home. Southee has been in charge of New Zealand’s Test team since Kane Williamson relinquished the role at the end of 2022, captaining the side to six victories and two draws from 14 Test matches, as per the ICC.
The 35-year-old said the decision to step down was in the best interests of the team and he will support Latham as the new captain. “Captaining the Black Caps in a format that’s so special to me, has been an absolute honour and a privilege. I have always tried to put the team first throughout my career, and I believe this decision is the best for the team,” Southee said in a statement.
Tim Southee has stepped down as BLACKCAPS Test captain, with Tom Latham confirmed to take up the role full-time.
Latham, who has captained the Test side on nine previous occasions, will lead a 15-strong Test squad including Southee, to India next Friday https://t.co/rdMjvX6Nd5
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) October 1, 2024
“I believe the way I can best serve the team moving forward is by focussing on my performances on the field and getting back to my best, to continue taking wickets and helping New Zealand win Test matches.
“I will, as I have always done, continue to support my teammates, especially the exciting young bowlers making their way on the international stage.I wish Tom all the best in the role, and he knows I will be there to support him on his journey, as he has done for me over the years,” Southee added.
New Zealand will begin a three-match Test series against India at Bengaluru on October 16.