THESE two skippers give up captaincy, one of them is arch-rival of Team India…
Two top cricketers have given up captaincy of their national side on Tuesday. One of those cricketers was set to lead his side in three-match Test series against India later this month.
Tuesday night became a gigantic one for 2 top cricket nations in the arena as their skippers made up our minds to step down from captaincy. One in all them is from Team India’s arch-rivals Pakistan – with Babar Azam announcing his decision to supply up limited-overs captaincy late on Tuesday night.
Except Babar, New Zealand captain Tim Southee has also stepped down from his position upfront of three-match Test series against Rohit Sharma’s Indian cricket team later this month. Southee gave up the Test captaincy after his side’s 2-0 whitewash against Sri Lanka last month and opening batter Tom Latham will take over the job instead of the veteran pacer.
Babar announced that he's going to step down as the white-ball captain of the Pakistan cricket team to ‘prioritise’ his performance. Pakistan has now no longer won a primary tournament during Babar’s tenure as captain, which began in 2019. Last year, lower than his leadership, Pakistan became eliminated from the Asia Cup in the Super four stage after a two-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka in Colombo.
A couple of months later, Pakistan’s struggles continued as they failed to arrive the knockout stage of the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Following the conclusion of the World Cup, Babar resigned from the captaincy in all formats. Shaheen Shah Afridi became appointed as the T20I captain but became removed after only 1 series, which Pakistan lost four-1 to New Zealand.
Babar became consequently reinstated as the white-ball captain, while Shan Masood remained the Test captain. In a statement on his official ‘X’ account, Babar expressed that it had been an honour to steer the Pakistan men’s cricket team.
He stated that stepping down from the captaincy would give him clarity and permit him to point of interest on his personal growth and performance.
“Dear fans, I’m sharing some news with you this day. I've made up our minds to resign as captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, effective as of my notification to the PCB and Team Management last month. It’s been an honour to steer this team, however it it’s time for me to step down and point of interest on my playing role. Captaincy has been a rewarding experience, however it it’s added a massive workload. I'd like to prioritise my performance, experience my batting, and spend quality time with my family, which brings me joy. By stepping down, I will gain clarity moving forward and point of interest more energy on my game and private growth. I’m grateful to your unwavering enhance and belief in me. Your enthusiasm has meant the arena to me. I’m comfortable with what we’ve achieved together and excited to continue contributing to the team as a player. Thanks to your love and enhance,” Babar wrote on X.
Dear Fans,
I’m sharing some news with you this day. I've made up our minds to resign as captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, effective as of my notification to the PCB and Team Management last month.
It’s been an honour to steer this team, however it it’s time for me to step down and point of interest…
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) October 1, 2024
Babar made his Test debut in 2016 against the West Indies and has since played fifty four matches, scoring three,962 runs at a strike rate of fifty four.Sixty three. He played his first ODI in 2015 against Zimbabwe, featuring in 117 matches and scoring 5,729 runs at a strike rate of 88.seventy 5.
Since debuting in T20Is in 2016 against England, Babar has played 123 matches, amassing four,One hundred forty five runs at a strike rate of 129.08. In the T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan suffered a disappointing campaign, losing their opening match to co-hosts USA on a tough surface in New York. This surprise defeat proved important as they failed to progress beyond the group stage.
Tim Southee steps down as Test captain
Southee stepped down from his role as New Zealand’s Test captain and wicketkeeper-batter Tom Latham will likely be leading the team during their three-match Test series against India far off from home. Southee has been in command of New Zealand’s Test team since Kane Williamson relinquished the role on the pinnacle of 2022, captaining the side to six victories and two draws from 14 Test matches, as per the ICC.
The 35-year-old said the choice to step down became in the right kind interests of the team and he's going to enhance Latham as the logo new captain. “Captaining the Black Caps in a format that’s so special to me, has been an absolute honour and a privilege. I've always tried to position the team first during my career, and I've faith this decision is the right kind for the team,” Southee said in a statement.
Tim Southee has stepped down as BLACKCAPS Test captain, with Tom Latham confirmed to take up the role full-time.
Latham, who has captained the Test side on nine previous occasions, will lead a 15-strong Test squad including Southee, to India next Friday https://t.co/rdMjvX6Nd5
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) October 1, 2024
“I've faith the style I can best serve the team moving forward is by focussing on my performances on the sphere and getting back to my best, to continue taking wickets and helping New Zealand win Test matches.
“I will, as I've always done, continue to enhance my teammates, specifically the exciting young bowlers making their way on the international stage.I wish Tom every of the right kind in the role, and he knows I will likely be there to enhance him on his journey, as he has done for me over time,” Southee added.
New Zealand will initiate a three-match Test series against India at Bengaluru on October Sixteen.
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