Pakistan Captain Babar Azam did not shy away from addressing questions surrounding his future as the white-ball captain after his side’s early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup. After Pakistan’s last league game against Ireland on Sunday (June 16), Babar attended the post-match presser and answered all questions thrown at him. When asked about what the future holds for him as the skipper, he said it’s all in the PCB’s hands, adding if he is to re-resign from this post, he will announce it openly.

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“When I gave up the captaincy [in 2023], I thought that I shouldn’t be doing it now, that’s why I left it and I announced it myself,” Babar said in the post-match presser. 

“Then when they gave it back to me, it was the decision of the PCB. When I go back, we will discuss all that has happened here. And if I have to leave the captaincy, I will announce it openly. I will not hide behind anything. Whatever happens will happen in the open. But for now, I have not thought about it. It is eventually PCB’s decision,” he continued.

After resigning from this post following last year’s 50-over World Cup in India, the PCB reappointed him as the white-ball captain ahead of the 20-team tournament in the Americas. Although Pakistan had a settled squad at their helm, they failed to win three series in the lead-up to this tournament, drawing against New Zealand (2-2 at home), Ireland (1-1) and England (0-2). 

Even in this marquee tournament, Pakistan’s loss to the co-hosts USA in their opener was a confidence-shattering defeat, with going down to India in their next match adding salt to the wounds. Their washout game against Canada led to their shocking exit, but they ended the tournament on high with a tight win against Ireland in their last group match.

‘We failed as a unit’

Although Babar leads the run chart in this format, even ahead of veteran Virat Kohli, he hasn’t produced knocks worth recalling, at least at the bigger stages. Even against Ireland, he remained unbeaten on 32 off 34 balls, hitting just two fours.

When asked about their performance, Babar said,

“I told you that we did not lose this because of one particular person,” Babar said. 

“We win and lose as a team. You are pointing out that [I am] the captain, but I cannot play in every player’s place. There are 11 players, and each of them has a role. That’s why they came here to play the World Cup. I think we have not been able to play well as a team. We have to settle down and accept that we didn’t play well as a team,” he added.

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