KARACHI: In a late-night tweet, Pakistani cricketer Babar Azam announced his decision to step down as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team, Dawn.com reported. In a post on X, Babar said: “I have decided to resign as captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, effective as of my notification to the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) and Team Management last month. “It’s been an honour to lead this team, but it’s time for me to step down and focus on my playing role.” He said captaincy had been a “rewarding experience” but it added a “significant workload” on him. “I want to prioritise my performance, enjoy my batting, and spend quality time with my family, which brings me joy. “By stepping down, I will gain clarity moving forward and focus more energy on my game and personal growth,” he said. Azam added that he was grateful for the unwavering support and belief in him. “Your enthusiasm has meant the world to me. I’m proud of what we’ve achi­eved together and excited to continue contributing to the team as a player.” Babar Azam had returned to the captaincy of the men’s cricket team in March after the PCB announced that he would lead the Green Shirts in ODIs and T20s as part of a “strategic move”. He was first made the T20 captain in 2019, before taking charge of the Test and ODI teams in 2020. Babar stepped down from the post in November last year, after Pakistan’s dismal showing in the Asia Cup and the 50-over World Cup. Shaheen Shah Afridi had replaced him as the T20 captain and Shan Masood had assumed the role as the team’s Test skipper. However, when it came to reassuming the mantle of captaincy, sources told Dawn at the time that Babar Azam had conveyed some tough conditions to the PCB, seeking supreme authority as captain and a two-year stint in the top spot. Moreover, the right-hander had asked the PCB not to hold him accountable for the Pakistan team’s performance in the T20 World Cup. He recently dropped out of the top 10 of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) ranking for Test batsmen after nearly five years. The former skipper, who has suffered a rare rough patch in the format, is currently ranked at number 11 among batters.