Shan Masood Confirmed as Pakistan’s red-ball captain for 2025-27 WTC Cycle

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirms that Shan Masood will continue as the Test team captain for the upcoming 2025–27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. There were several questions regarding the experienced batter's leadership role as the team suffered a poor result in the recently concluded 2023–25 cycle.

In 12 matches, Pakistan, under Shan Masood's leadership, managed to win only 3 and lost in 9 matches. After the difficult camping, questions were naturally around his future as a skipper. After some discussions between PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and red-ball coach Azhar Mahmood, the board decided to show faith in the 35-year-old.

It is necessary to remember that PCB demoted the batter from Category B to Category D of their central contract list. Category D is PCB's lowermost tier. Media reports suggest that the board granted Masood and Mahmood a free hand to manage the Test team. Interestingly, neither the skipper nor the head coach is part of the selection committee.

Pakistan Cricket Board show faith on captain Shan Masood

From an individual standpoint, Shan's test stats were decent in the Whites. He scored three-digit scores against England and South Africa as well. The 145-run knock against South Africa was in Cape Town. Against Australia, he smashed 50s in the previous WTC cycle. But as a team, Pakistan again and again faced difficulties. Masood's first test of the new WTC cycle is against defending WTC champions South Africa, who play two tests in Pakistan in October. Masood was appointed Test captain in late 2023 in place of Babar Azam.

The replacement in leadership so far has not worked positively for Pakistan cricket, as the struggle of the team in the format continued. Apart from the change in captaincy, there was instability over the appointment of the head coach role as well. Then, the board has to manage a transition phase. Overall, PCB is yet to find a positive sign in the format.