New Delhi, October 4: Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif is confident that right-handed batter Babar Azam will regain his top form now that he is free from the pressures of captaincy.
Babar Azam recently announced his decision to step down as the white-ball captain of the Pakistan cricket team in order to "prioritize" his performance.
"He (Babar) realized it late but made the right choice in the end. Mohammad Amir, Azam (Khan), and Imad Wasim have always kept him on his toes, especially during the T20 World Cup. Now they are gone, and Babar's time will come as the pressure of captaincy has been lifted," Latif shared on X.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been searching for a captain for 11 months. They first dismissed Shaheen, reinstated Babar, and now find themselves in a precarious position again.
Pakistan requires strong leadership from its captain, coach, and manager, according to Latif.
During Babar's captaincy, which began in 2019, Pakistan has not won a major tournament. Under his leadership last year, the team was eliminated from the Asia Cup in the Super 4 stage after a two-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Later, Pakistan continued to struggle and failed to reach the knockout stage of the ODI World Cup in India. In a statement on his official X account, Babar expressed that it had been an honor to lead the team. He stated that resigning from captaincy would provide him with clarity and allow him to concentrate on his personal 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 from my notification to the PCB and Team Management last month. Leading this team has been an honor, but it's time for me to step down and focus on my playing role. Captaincy has been a rewarding experience, but it has come with a heavy workload. I want to prioritize my performance, enjoy my batting, and spend quality time with my family, which brings me joy. Stepping down will give me clarity moving forward and allow me to focus more energy on my game and personal development. 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.
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 made his ODI debut in 2015 against Zimbabwe, appearing 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, accumulating 4,145 runs at a strike rate of 129.08.
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