Pakistan captain Babar Azam may step down after World Cup 2023
New Delhi, November 10: Speculation is rife that Pakistan's captain Babar Azam is considering stepping down from white-ball cricket captaincy after the World Cup 2023, sources revealed to Geo News on Friday.
Facing the possibility of missing out on the final semi-final spot, the Men in Green are in a precarious position, and even a victory needs to be with a significant margin. Sources indicate that Babar Azam has been in discussions with former Pakistan cricketer and PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja, as well as close associates, about his future as captain.
The decision to continue leading the team reportedly hinges on the advice he receives, with some close aides advising him to relinquish captaincy across all three formats. In a pre-match press conference before Pakistan's crucial group stage clash against England, Babar responded to queries about his captaincy future, stating, "About the captaincy--as I said, once we go back to Pakistan or after this match, we will see what happens. But right now, I am not focusing on this; my focus is on the next match."
Addressing concerns about his form, Babar Azam denied that captaincy had impacted his performance in the World Cup, asserting that he has been leading the team without such pressure for the past three years. The captain emphasized that he was applying the same approach as when he was performing well both as a player and leader.
As England and Pakistan gear up for their crucial clash at the iconic Eden Gardens on Saturday, Babar Azam's potential exit from the captaincy adds an element of uncertainty to Pakistan's future cricket leadership.
- ANI
