Babar Azam Steps Down, Shaheen Afridi New T20 Skipper

In a significant development after Pakistan’s below-par performance in the ICC World Cup 2023, captain Babar Azam has announced his decision to step down from captaincy duties across all formats. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) swiftly appointed pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new T20 captain, while Shan Masood will lead the team in the test format.

Babar Azam, who faced criticism for on-ground decisions and had a subpar individual performance in the tournament, expressed the difficulty of his decision in a heartfelt post on social media platform X. Despite stepping down as captain, Babar Azam affirmed his commitment to representing Pakistan as a player in all three formats and pledged support to the new captain and the team.

The newly appointed T20 skipper, Shaheen Shah Afridi, is set to take charge of the team’s shortest format. Meanwhile, Shan Masood will lead the team in Test cricket. The PCB, in a post on X, officially introduced the new captains and expressed confidence in their leadership.

Babar Azam, reflecting on his journey as captain since 2019, thanked the fans for their unwavering support. PCB’s chairman of the Management Committee, Zaka Ashraf, acknowledged Babar Azam as a world-class player and expressed the board’s continued support for him.

As Pakistan looks ahead to new leadership in T20s and Tests, the cricketing community anticipates how Shaheen Afridi and Shan Masood will shape the team’s future. The transition marks a significant chapter in Pakistan cricket, and fans await the upcoming challenges under the guidance of the new leadership.