Babar Azam reappointed as Pakistan’s Test captain ahead of West Indies, England tours
• Babar Azam returns as Pakistan’s Test captain after nearly three years.
• Shan Masood removed following poor Test record of four wins in 16 matches.
• PCB announces 16-member squad for West Indies tour, with Saud Shakeel to join England leg if fit.
• Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and Noman Ali left out as four uncapped players earn call-ups.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reinstated Babar Azam as the national Test captain, replacing Shan Masood ahead of the team’s upcoming Test tours of the West Indies and England.
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Babar becomes Pakistan’s 36th Test captain and returns to the role after last leading the side during the tour of Sri Lanka in 2023. He had stepped down as captain across all three formats following Pakistan’s campaign at the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup. Although he was reappointed as T20I captain in 2024, he has not captained Pakistan in any format since the team’s early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The leadership change comes after Pakistan’s disappointing run in the longest format under Shan Masood. During his tenure, Pakistan managed only four victories while suffering 12 defeats in 16 Test matches. His record stands as the lowest win-loss ratio for any Pakistan Test captain who has led the side in at least 10 matches over the past five decades.
Alongside the captaincy announcement, the PCB also named a 16-member squad for the upcoming Test series in the West Indies. Vice-captain Saud Shakeel is expected to join the squad for the subsequent England tour, subject to his fitness, increasing the touring party to 17 players.
The selectors have also introduced fresh talent by including four uncapped cricketers in the squad. Left-arm spinner Ali Usman, right-handed batter Muhammad Awais Zafar, right-arm fast bowler Ubaid Shah and wicketkeeper Muhammad Ghazi Ghori have all received their maiden Test call-ups.
Meanwhile, experienced players Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali and Noman Ali have been omitted from the squad as the PCB looks to reshape the Test side ahead of a challenging overseas schedule.
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