Babar Azam out as Pakistan captain in all formats

Babar Azam first led Pakistan in T20 cricket in 2019

Pakistan are moving on from Babar Azam as captain in all three formats following their failure to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

The 29-year-old batter announced he had resigned, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) later said he had been relieved of the white-ball captaincy.

They added he was asked to stay on as Test captain, but chose to step down.

Batter Shan Masood takes over as Test captain, while pace bowler Shaheen Afridi will lead the Twenty20 side.

A captain for the one-day side is yet to be named.

The PCB have also removed the entire coaching staff of the men's team, including team director Mickey Arthur.

Former captain and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has been appointed as director.

A new coaching team will be put in place for the tour of Australia and New Zealand, which begins in December.

Babar leaves after Pakistan finished fifth at the World Cup, winning four and losing five of their nine games.

He first led in white-ball cricket in 2019 and took over as Test skipper in 2021.

Babar met with the PCB in Lahore on Wednesday and, after discussions with his family, he decided to stand down as Test captain.

"It is a difficult decision, but I feel it is a right time," he said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

"I vividly remember the moment I received the call to lead Pakistan. Over the past four years I've experienced many highs and lows, on and off the field, but I wholeheartedly and passionately aimed to maintain Pakistan's pride and respect in the cricket world.

"I will continue to represent Pakistan as a player in all three formats. I am here to support the new captain and the team with my experience and dedication."

Under Babar, Pakistan won 10 out of 20 Tests, but were beaten 3-0 at home by England last December, the first time they have suffered such a loss on home soil.

They reached number one in the world one-day international rankings in August and also made the final of last year's T20 World Cup, where they were beaten by England.

Chairman of the PCB management committee, Zaka Ashraf, said: "Babar Azam is truly a world-class player and we want him to continue to thrive as a player. He is one of the best batters Pakistan has ever produced.

"He is our asset, and we will continue to support him. His batting prowess is a testament to his dedication and skill. He is a role model for the present generation.

"We want to see him grow as a great batter and now without his additional burden of the captaincy, he can focus more on his performances to reach even greater heights. We respect his decision and will continue to back him."

'Babar was expected to deliver'

Test Match Special commentator Aatif Nawaz

Ultimately, it doesn't matter how good a player you are. You can be the best player of your generation. Results are results. And with a team as strong and talented as Pakistan, the expectation will always be high.

Semi-finals and finals are just not enough, you're expected to deliver silverware and that's where Babar has failed.

It's possible that like other great batters of their generation, Babar's greatest successes will come now, without the burden, expectation and endless scrutiny of being the Pakistan captain.

It's seemed to work for Joe Root, Virat Kohli and Steve Smith.