PAK vs IRE: Babar Azam eager to continue as Pakistan captain despite T20 World Cup 2024 debacle

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PAK vs IRE: Will Babar Azam remain Pakistan captain? The stylish batter has left the decision on the Pakistan cricket Board (PCB) despite the team's horror run in the T20 World Cup 2024 where they failed to qualify for the Super 8.

Pakistan had to work really hard to win their dead-rubber last Group A match against Ireland in Florida on Sunday. Chasing 107, Pakistan were six down for 62, but Babar Azam stayed rock solid in the middle and guided the team to a three-wicket win (seven balls remaining).

Babar Azam scored unbeaten 32 runs off 34 balls to negate through the tough situation. After being asked in the post-match press-conference if he would continue as Pakistan captain, the 29-year-old said that he was yet to ponder on the thought.

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"When I left captaincy (previously), I felt that I shouldn't be captain any more and announced it myself. When PCB gave it back, that was their decision. Now we'll go back and have a discussion about what all has happened here. If I leave captaincy again then I will inform everyone. For now, I haven't thought about it and the decision is up to PCB," Babar Azam said after Pakistan played their last match of the T20 World Cup 2024.

Shaheen Afridi was named the captain of Pakistan after Babar Azam stepped down from captaincy following Pakistan's league stage exit of the ODI World Cup in India last year.

Shaheen Afridi was named the captain of Pakistan T20I team, while Shah Masood took charge as the Test captain of Pakistan cricket team. But PCB renamed Babar Azam as the T20I captain ahead of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.

As Babar Azam returned at the helm, Pakistan played a 2-2 draw against New Zealand at home, before losing a historic first T20I match against Ireland in May. They were humiliated at the hands of England just ahead of the ninth edition of the T20 World Cup.

The biggest setback came as Pakistan lost their T20 World Cup 2024 opener against USA on June 6 in Dallas. As a batter Babar Azam scored 122 runs in four matches at an average of 40.66 and a strike rate of 101.66. He finished as the leading run-scorer for Pakistan in the tournament.