Babar Azam has stepped down as Pakistan’s white-ball captain, bringing an end to his second tenure as the national team’s leader.

The news was announced on the former captain’s social media accounts.

“I have decided to resign as captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team,” the statement said. “It’s been an honor to lead this team, but it’s time for me to step down and focus on my playing role. Captaincy has been a rewarding experience, but it’s added a significant workload.”

Babar Azam’s first tenure as Pakistan’s captain began with high hopes and the promise of a new era for the national team. However, the optimism surrounding his captaincy began to wane as Pakistan faced challenges in key tournaments. The 2023 ODI World Cup ended in heartbreak, with Pakistan crashing out before the semifinals, including a loss to Afghanistan. Babar resigned soon after that as the all-format captain.

The PCB reappointed Babar as captain for a second stint earlier this year. However, this decision was met with widespread criticism. Babar’s second run as captain only fueled further outrage, as the team’s performance did not improve. The most significant blow came during the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Pakistan exited in the first round after a shock loss to the USA, a far cry from the expectations of a title run.

The PCB accepted his resignation. However, no new white-ball captain has been announced as of yet. Shan Masood, meanwhile, continues as the red-ball captain for the upcoming England series.

Shaheen Shah Afridi was appointed as Babar Azam’s white-ball successor after he resigned last year. However, he was also sacked after only one T20I series to bring back Babar, who has now resigned twice within the space of one year.