LAHORE: In the aftermath of Pakistan’s humiliating exit from the ICC World T20, captain Mohammad Hafeez has decided to step down.

Hafeez announced his decision on Thursday after a three-hour long meeting with PCB chief Najam Sethi and coach Moin Khan, a day after the team’s return from Bangladesh where they were knocked out of the World T20 after an 84-run defeat at the hands of West Indies on Tuesday.

Not only did Hafeez, who managed just 55 runs and a wicket in four games at the World T20, quit his post as T20 skipper but he’s also relinquished his job as vice-captain to Misbah-ul-Haq in Tests and One-day Internationals.

“As captain, I take full responsibility of the team’s performance,” he told reporters on Thursday after his side failed to reach the last four for the first time in five editions of the tournament since its inception in 2007.

“We played good cricket and we played bad cricket and I accept all of it. Today, we had a discussion at a meeting with the PCB chairman and I decided to step down as captain, clearing the way for PCB to decide who to lead the team,” he added, with Moin alongside him.

“I want to give someone else a chance to take the team forward and hope better decisions will be made for the improvement of the team.”

Pakistan’s disappointing loss to the West Indies triggered criticism from all quarters and Hafeez’s decision may help the PCB face less slack for the team’s performance.

Moin and chief cricket consultant Zaheer Abbas are also set to leave their posts with their two-month contracts expiring at the end of the World T20.

Now, the PCB has to pick a new team management and captain for which it has enough time with Pakistan’s next series scheduled to be held in October against Australia in the UAE. The series features a one-off Twenty20, three ODIs and two Tests.

Hafeez, 33, led Pakistan to the semi-finals in the last World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka two years ago, shortly after taking over from Misbah and said no one had forced him to quit.

“I thank the PCB chairman, higher officials of the PCB, the support staff, media, all players, who have supported me during the last two years,” Hafeez, who led Pakistan in 29 Twenty20 matches, winning 17 and losing 11, while one was abandoned, said.

“All discussions today were held in a pleasant atmosphere and there was no pressure on me to step down and I’m ready to play under any captain as I have done my job with responsibility as captain as well as player.”

Pakistan began the World Twenty20 with a defeat against arch-rivals India before winning their next two games against Australia and Bangladesh but the loss to the West Indies sent them out of the competition.

“It was a decision I took after much thought and I apologise to the people who have always supported me for our performance in the tournament,” he said.

To a question, Hafeez said the shot selection of the batsmen wasn’t up to the mark and there was no need to give air to allegations of groupings within the team.

“Our performance was simply not good enough,” he said, reiterating that he wasn’t “crazy for captaincy and would love to play in all formats as a regular player in the team”.

Hafeez had put his weight behind the selection of Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal and he had a diplomatic approach to the fact that both failed miserably during the course of the tournament.

“All 15 players who were in Bangladesh had my support and backing and all were selected with consensus and now we all are responsible,” he said.

Meanwhile, Moin added that Hafeez’s decision to stand down should be praised.

“Hafeez has accepted responsibility and has stepped down so we all must praise his decision,” he told reporters. “I think he has set a very healthy precedent by taking responsibility for the team’s performance.”

He said that he would suggest a successor to Hafeez but only when the PCB asks for it.

The former Test captain also expressed his disappointment over the shambolic nature of Pakistan’s World T20 exit with their batsmen falling like a pack of cards against the West Indies.

He said that after bowling badly in the last four overs to help the West Indies set up a sizeable target of 166, the batsmen failed to back themselves in their chase.

“The target was achievable but we made lot of mistakes in our pursuit of it,” he said. “However, the team which played against the West Indies was the same as the one which played against Australia and Bangladesh.

“It was the same team which was being praised all over by the media a day before the game.”

Asked if he had also contemplated stepping down as head coach, Moin, who replaced Dav Whatmore before the Asia Cup in February, said his contract with the board was for two tournaments and it was over now.

“My assignment has ended, but I have told the PCB chairman I’m available if I be given a chance again,’’ he said. “I tried my best to improve the team and we won two matches but against the West Indies, unfortunately, we lost miserably.

“In my first assignment at the Asia Cup, we reached the final so I’d like to think that my performance wasn’t that bad.”

To a question the former wicket-keeper acknowledged he was a powerful head coach, but that did not mean he was dictating orders as the “captain, coach and others must be on one page while taking decisions”.

“Now it is time for the PCB to plan afresh for the ICC World Cup [next year], however, there is no need to sack seven to eight players in one go but a few youngsters could be inducted into the team,” he said.