"If I have to leave the captaincy, I will announce it openly" - Babar Azam after Pakistan's poor T20 World Cup 2024 campaign
Pakistan captain Babar Azam said that he has not thought about his captaincy future amidst scrutiny after the team's forgettable performance in the T20 World Cup 2024. The Lahore-born cricketer has left it to the Pakistan Cricket Board to decide and said that he will accept the verdict.
The Men in Green ended their campaign with a nervy consolation win over Ireland on Sunday in Florida but endured a group-stage exit. Pakistan's chances looked doomed after losing to USA in Dallas, but they had a strong chance of beating Team India. However, they fluffed a run-chase of 120 that almost sealed their elimination as co-hosts USA and India surged ahead.
At a presser after Sunday's game, Babar said that he has no clue why the PCB gave him the captaincy back after he had resigned following the 2023 World Cup. However, the 29-year-old vowed not to hide behind anything if it comes to stepping down again. As quoted by ESPN Cricinfo, he said:
"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. 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."
Pakistan's middle order underperformed throughout the campaign. The 2009 World T20 champions lost to India from a position where they needed 48 off 48 with eight wickets left. The fixture against Ireland saw them slide to 62-6, chasing 107 before eventually winning by three wickets.
"We win and lose as a team" - Babar Azam
Babar went on to implicate that he alone cannot take responsibility of 11 players, as the loss is on every member of the squad:
"I told you that we did not lose this because of one particular person. 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."
Babar Azam and co. were the runners-up at the previous edition.