In a sudden news for New Zealand cricket, And Pakistan Cricket, Tim Southee has announced his resignation as the Test captain ahead of the highly anticipated three-match series against India, commencing on October 16. On the other side, Babar Azam step down from limited-overs cricket captaincy role.
Tom Latham, who has successfully led the Black Caps on nine previous occasions, will take charge of the 15-member squad for this series, which notably includes Southee himself.
Reflecting on his time as captain, Southee shared his mixed emotions about stepping down from the role he has held since December 2022.
“Captaining the BLACKCAPS in a format that’s so special to me, has been an absolute honour and a privilege,” he stated. He emphasized that his decision was rooted in the best interests of the team, stating, “I believe the way I can best serve the team moving forward is focusing on my performances on the field.”
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Since his debut in 2008, Southee has played 102 Tests and taken an impressive 382 wickets. During his tenure as captain, he led the team in 14 Tests, securing 6 wins, 6 losses, and 2 draws.
While stepping back from the captaincy position, Southee expressed his commitment to support his teammates, particularly the younger bowlers who are carving their paths in the international arena. He expressed his well-wishes for Latham, indicating his continued support throughout this transition.
As New Zealand navigates leadership changes, Pakistan cricket is also facing its own turmoil, with Babar Azam tendering his resignation as captain for the second time. Following a disappointing performance in the ODI World Cup in India earlier this month, Babar Azam’s decision to step back is seen as an effort to relieve himself of the immense burden that comes with the captaincy, allowing him to concentrate on his batting.
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In a heartfelt statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Babar Azam announced,
“I’m sharing some news with you today. I have decided to resign as captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, effective as of my notification to the PCB and Team Management last month.”
He highlighted that while it has been a privilege to lead the national side, the time has come for him to focus on his personal performance on the field.
Babar Azam’s captaincy journey has been a rollercoaster, where he was initially ousted after the ODI World Cup but reinstated as skipper for white-ball formats in March of this year.
His recent resignation symbolizes further challenges for Pakistan cricket, as the team gears up for an intense schedule of international matches. Following a Test series against England starting October 7, Pakistan will tour Australia for a series of ODIs and T20Is.
Additionally, they are set to visit Zimbabwe and South Africa later this year before returning home for series against the West Indies and New Zealand, culminating in hosting the Champions Trophy early next year.