Babar Azam has returned as Pakistan's Test captain, replacing Shan Masood for the second time in his career. The Pakistan Cricket Board made the change ahead of the upcoming World Test Championship series against the West Indies and England as it looks to improve the team's Test results.
The Pakistan Men's National Selection Committee announced the decision during a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday, July 5. The selectors also included four uncapped players in the Test squad as Pakistan begin preparations for challenging overseas tours.
Pakistan high-performance director Aaqib Javed said the selection committee unanimously backed Babar Azam to return as Test captain. He dismissed suggestions that vice-captain Salman Ali Agha was considered for the role.
"The selection committee sat down and discussed the matter. We looked at which player could prove to be the best captain for the Test team. From our side, there was only one recommendation, and that was Babar Azam. That's it."
Shan Masood's time as Pakistan's Test captain came to an end after a disappointing run of results. He led the team in 16 Tests, winning only three and losing 12, the most defeats by any captain in their first 16 Test matches.
Pakistan recently suffered a 2-0 series defeat against Bangladesh. The team is at the bottom of the World Test Championship standings with just one win in the current cycle.
We Fell Short in Crucial Moments - Aaqib Javed
Aaqib Javed said Shan Masood performed well as a batter but felt Pakistan fell short in key moments. He added that the team needed a captain who could improve the side's performances in Test cricket.
"We played some very close Test matches, both at home and away, but we fell short in crucial moments, whether it was tailenders building partnerships, the toss, or DRS decisions. While Shan Masood performed well individually, we felt the team needed a captain who could take Pakistan Test cricket forward and bring further improvements."
Masood scored 1,056 runs at an average of 34.06 during his captaincy and led Pakistan to a 2-1 home series win over England in 2024. However, the team's overall results forced the selectors to make a leadership change.
Babar Azam Faces Tough Test as Captain Returns
Babar Azam previously won 10 of his 20 Tests as captain, including series victories in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. However, he has struggled with the bat since stepping down in 2023, averaging just over 27 in Test cricket.
Pakistan will play their next World Test Championship campaign with a two-match Test series against the West Indies before touring England for a three-Test series later this summer. These assignments will be Babar's first challenge after returning as captain.
The Test squad also includes four uncapped players, Ali Usman, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Ubaid Shah, and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori. Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel has been included for the England tour, subject to passing a fitness test.
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