Pakistan’s Major Shake-Up: Azam Resigns After World Cup Debacle
Published on: November 17, 2023.
Filed under:
Pakistan cricket made significant changes following their disappointing performance in the World Cup. Babar Azam stepped down as captain, with Shan Masood taking over as Test captain and Shaheen Shah Afridi leading the white-ball side. Additionally, the coaching staff underwent a downgrade. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) removed Azam as limited-overs captain but expressed their desire for him to continue leading the Test team. Azam announced his decision on X, stating that it was the right time to step down. He expressed his gratitude to the PCB for the opportunity to captain the team and pledged his support to the new captain and the team. Masood was appointed as the Test captain until 2025, while Shaheen took on the white-ball captaincy. Former captain Mohammad Hafeez was appointed as the team director, replacing Mickey Arthur.
Azam reflected on his journey as captain, acknowledging the highs and lows, notably the disappointment of their World Cup campaign. Despite his efforts to maintain Pakistan’s pride and respect in cricket, the team faced challenges, including defeats to India and Afghanistan. Azam’s individual performance in the World Cup also fell short of expectations, with no centuries and a total of 320 runs. As captain, Azam achieved moderate success, with ten wins, six losses, and four draws in Tests, 26 wins and 16 losses in ODIs, and 41 wins and 23 losses in T20Is. In T20 World Cups, Pakistan reached the semi-finals in 2021 and finished as runners-up in 2022.
Looking ahead, Pakistan faces a tough tour of Australia, playing three Tests starting on December 14 in Perth. The team has struggled in Australia, losing their last 14 Tests there. Shan Masood, with 30 Tests under his belt, will lead the team, while Shaheen Shah Afridi will start his captaincy with a T20 series in New Zealand in January. Shaheen has previous leadership experience, having led the Lahore franchise to two Pakistan Super League titles.
Overall, Pakistan cricket aims to regain success under new leadership and overcome the challenges they have faced in recent times.
Source: [Zawya News](https://www.zawya.com)
