Babar Azam returns as captain for third time

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday replaced struggling Test captain Shan Masood with star batsman Babar Azam, who will begin a third stint as skipper on the tours of the West Indies and England starting later this month.

Masood, 36, took over from Azam in December 2023 and led the side to 12 defeats in 16 Tests. Pakistan finished ninth and last in the previous World Test Championship cycle. They again lie ninth in the current cycle after a 2-0 series defeat in Bangladesh in May.

Aqib Javed, who led the selection committee, including Misbahul Haq, told a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium that Babar was unanimously endorsed by the committee after Shan Masood failed to deliver satisfactory results during his tenure as red-ball captain.

"Azam will be our new Test captain as we feel that Masood could not lead as desired," said chief selector Aqib Javed while announcing the squad. "The selection committee discussed who could be the best player to lead Pakistan, and Babar Azam is the best option," he added.

He said that Masood's individual performance had been satisfactory during his tenure, but he did not fare well as captain. Under Masood's captaincy, Pakistan lost matches from positions of strength, and the nature of the defeats was repetitive, he said.

"The Test matches were lost by close margins, and the captain could not lead from the front," he said about Masood. "Besides individual responsibilities, a captain has to finish games, maintain the over rate during a Test match and make the right call at the toss."

Responding to a query, Javed said Salman Ali Agha was not considered for the Test captaincy. Considering Babar Azam's past achievements, he was the selectors' preferred choice and brings the confidence and composure needed to lead the team on challenging overseas tours.

This will be top-order batter Azam's third spell in charge of the side, having stepped down in November 2023 and again in October 2024. During his previous tenures, Pakistan won 10 of the 20 Tests played under his captaincy.

Responding to a query, Misbah said Babar Azam is an all-format player and his performances have proved it. "Babar Azam was the highest run-getter in PSL 11 and leads the ICC batting charts in T20Is. His recent form with the bat in PSL 11 has proved his worth in T20Is," he said.

Pakistan will play the first of two Tests against the West Indies in Tarouba, Trinidad, from July 25. The second begins in Port of Spain on August 2. Pakistan will then travel to England for Tests at Headingley, beginning on August 19, Lord's from August 27 and Edgbaston from September 9.

Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali were omitted after being part of the squad that lost 2-0 in Bangladesh. The selectors awarded a place to 20-year-old uncapped fast bowler Ubaid Shah, the younger brother of Naseem Shah, who was left out of the squad.

Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali were the three other fast bowlers selected. Uncapped middle-order batter Awais Zafar and left-arm spinner Ali Usman were included for the first time. It is not the end of the road for Naseem Shah," Javed said.

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori, Sajid Khan, Salman Agha, Shan Masood, Ubaid Shah, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness for England).