Shan Masood to continue as Pakistan's red-ball captain for 2025-27 WTC cycle
Shan Masood will continue as Pakistan’s Test captain for the 2025–27 WTC cycle, with Azhar Mahmood retained as head coach despite past poor results.
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Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood will continue to lead the team in red-ball cricket, much to his relief. Despite Pakistan’s poor performance in the last World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, Masood will remain captain for the 2025–27 WTC cycle. The decision ensures stability for the side as they prepare for upcoming series, including matches against South Africa.
On Tuesday, Masood and Pakistan’s red-ball coach, Azhar Mahmood, met with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. According to ESPNCricinfo, the captain-coach duo has been given a free hand to manage the team. Ironically, neither Masood nor Mahmood was part of the selection committee for choosing the squad for the upcoming South Africa series. Masood replaced Babar Azam as Test captain after the 2023 World Cup, but the team has shown limited progress since then. Many had speculated that Masood could be replaced after Pakistan finished at the bottom of the WTC 2023–25 points table.
Masood's central contract was recently reduced from Category B to Category D, the lowest level, indicating the team's haplessness under his command. Pakistan lost nine of the 12 Tests played under him, which shows how much work needs to be done. In spite of those performances, his captaincy is safe, at least for the moment.
Azhar Mahmood Also Retained as Head Coach
Azhar Mahmood will remain the head coach of red-ball cricket in Pakistan. Since the start of 2024, there has already been more than one coaching change, including with Jason Gillespie, who left unexpectedly following an argument with the PCB. Mahmood now has the job of rebuilding the team and improving results.
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Together, Masood and Mahmood will be responsible for building Pakistan's red-ball team, grooming youngsters, and enhancing the team's performance. Their priority will be to regain confidence and competitiveness as Pakistan embarks on a new journey in Test cricket with the 2025–27 WTC cycle.
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Gopi Marisetty
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