Babar Azam has made the decision to step down as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team following their disappointing performance in the Cricket World Cup 2023. Pakistan were unable to qualify for the semi-finals, winning only four out of their nine matches. Azam himself struggled to find form during the tournament, scoring just 320 runs in nine matches.

The 29-year-old captain faced criticism from experts and fans alike, both for his captaincy and his lack of runs. In a social media post, Azam expressed his gratitude to the Pakistan Cricket Board for giving him the opportunity to lead the team, but stated that he believed it was the right time to pass on the captaincy.

Shan Masood has been appointed as the new Test captain, while Shaheen Afridi will take over as the T20I captain. Masood, who has played 30 Test matches for Pakistan, will lead the team in the longest format of the game. Afridi, on the other hand, will guide the team in T20 internationals.

Azam reassured fans that he will continue to represent Pakistan as a player in all three formats of the game and will support the new captain and the team with his experience and dedication.

Who will succeed Babar Azam as captain remains to be seen, but the Pakistan Cricket Board has made these new appointments in hopes of rejuvenating the team and improving their performance in future competitions.

Sources:

- PTI

- India Today

- Sky Sports