Pakistan have made another leadership change in Test cricket, removing Shan Masood as captain and handing the role back to Babar Azam. The decision was confirmed when the Pakistan Cricket Board announced the squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies, which gets underway later this month. It marks Babar’s second stint as Pakistan’s Test skipper after previously stepping down from the role in 2023.
The move also highlights the PCB’s decision to return to a familiar face despite Babar’s recent struggles with the bat in the longest format. Since Shan Masood replaced him as captain, Babar has endured a lean run in Test cricket, averaging just over 27. Even so, Pakistan have chosen to place their trust in the former skipper once again as they prepare for the West Indies series.
Babar Azam Reappointed as Pakistan Test Captain After Shan Masood’s Exit
Shan Masood’s stint as Pakistan’s Test captain has come to an end, with the Pakistan Cricket Board handing the role back to Babar Azam ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies. Masood’s tenure proved to be one of the toughest in Pakistan’s Test history. He led the side in 16 matches but suffered 12 defeats, becoming the first captain ever to lose 12 of his opening 16 Tests. Pakistan also endured seven consecutive Test defeats during his leadership, matching the longest losing streak in the team’s history.
Although a comeback series win over England provided a rare highlight, Pakistan finished at the bottom of the 2023-25 World Test Championship standings after winning just one of seven series under his captaincy. Despite the team’s struggles, Masood managed to improve his own performances with the bat. He averaged just over 34 as captain, significantly better than his pre-captaincy numbers, while registering two Test centuries and seven half-centuries. Even so, the PCB has opted to turn back to Babar Azam, who previously stepped down as Test captain in 2023.
While Babar has struggled for runs in recent Test cricket, averaging a little over 27 during Masood’s tenure, his earlier spell as skipper was considerably more successful. Pakistan won 10 of the 20 Tests he captained, including series victories over South Africa, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, while Babar himself averaged above 50 with the bat during that period. Babar now returns to the role at the start of a demanding Test schedule. Pakistan will first play two Tests against the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, with matches scheduled from July 25-29 and August 2-6.
That tour will be followed by a three-match series in England, beginning at Headingley on August 19 before moving to Lord’s on August 27 and concluding at Edgbaston on September 9. Pakistan will then head into a busy home season featuring further Test series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
Full Pakistan Test Squad for West Indies and England Series
Pakistan Test Squad: Babar Azam (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, Ubaid Shah.
Note: Saud Shakeel’s selection for the England tour is subject to fitness clearance.
