Babar Azam named Pakistan Test captain for WI, ENG tours

Babar Azam has returned to shoulder the leadership responsibilities of the Pakistan Test side as he replaced Shan Masood, who led the side in this format since December 2024. Babar’s first assignment in the role will be the two-match Test trip of the Caribbean against the West Indies before they head or the United Kingdom for the three-match red-ball series against England.

There have been several changes in the squad that lost the away two-match Test series by 2-0 margin against Bangladesh in May this year with the senior trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, and Noman Ali being dropped.

Babar returns as Test captain — Why PCB replaced Shan Masood ahead of the tour

Appointed three years ago, Shan Masood captained Pakistan in 16 Tests and lost 12 of them. No captain in Test history has ever lost 12 of their first 16 Tests, and despite ten men having led Pakistan in more Tests, only Misbah-ul-Haq had overseen more defeats than Masood, having lost 19 of his 56 red-ball games.

The high-performance director of Pakistan, Aaqib Javed, noted that it was the repetitive nature of their Test defeats. That led them to decide they needed a change at the helm.

“We saw many close Test matches [under Shan's captaincy]. But a few things were not being addressed. Like the Centurion Test, South Africa's two batters at No. 10 [for the tenth wicket] put on a 60-70 run partnership (51 runs). The game was in our hands. Against the West Indies in Multan, in the second Test, the team was rolled over easily.” Javed expressed in the press conference.

“The captain has a responsibility of finishing games. Same with the South Africa Tests at home. Some things are the responsibility of the team, some are the responsibility of the selectors, and some are the responsibility of the captain.” He claimed.

As the leader of the Test side for Pakistan, Babar has gathered 1727 runs in 35 innings at an average of more than 50, celebrating 11 half-centuries and four centuries at the best score of 196 runs against Australia.

The squads — Who's in for Pakistan's West Indies and England Test series

Javed also revealed that Saud Shakeel was dropped for the West Indies series owing to the fitness concerns but hoped that he would be able to join the squad in time for the England tour.

Mohammad Ali and Aamir Jamal have also been recalled to the 16-player squad, while the pacer, Ubaid Shah, who of the youngest of the Shah brothers, Naseem and Hunain being the others, along with the left-arm spinner, Ali Usman, and Awais Zafar, have earned their maiden call-ups.

The opening Test of the West Indies series will start on July 25 before the second Test takes place on August 02. Both games will occur in Trinidad.

Pakistan’s squad for Tests in the West Indies and England-

Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam ul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Awais Zafar, Mohammad Ghazi Ghouri, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood, Ubaid Shah.