In a surprising move, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed its current Test captain, Shan Masood, as the consultant for International cricket and the Player Affairs. It’s a role that could soon become the Director of International Cricket, which is a senior administrative role in the boards. The PCB is actively recruiting for the position of Director, as the applications are closing on November 02. 

The reports have claimed that Shan Masood could fill the role to replace the previous Director of International Cricket, Usman Wahla, who was appointed in May two years ago. He was suspended from the role in September last year. However, since then, there has been no official confirmation from the board on his employment status.

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The official statement of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is uncertain, as it is unclear about Masood’s specific responsibilities and how long he would be in the job for, or how it could affect his status as the captain and player of the national Test side. The decision has come just a day after the end of the two-match Test series against South Africa, which they ended with a 1-1 margin.

Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood gets new role in senior administrative role

Masood has been tight-lipped on the news. He has had the reins of the red-ball team for the last two years now, a period in which his position as the captain came under considerable scrutiny. He has won only one Test series against England last winter, but before that, he became the first Pakistan captain to lose a Test series against Bangladesh.

Masood’s tenure consisted of ten defeats and four victories, which included a drawn series at home against the West Indies and a whitewash in Australia (3-0) and South Africa (2-0). Pakistan finished the last WTC cycle with the wooden spoon.

Masood’s appointment as a consultant is really surprising, even by the standards of the administration. Over time, it will raise eyebrows about his playing future regarding some decisions he will make in the future. Their next red-ball assignment will be the two-match series against Bangladesh and the West Indies next year, before a three-match trip to England in August 2026.

Pakistan and South Africa are set to lock horns in the first Test of their two-match series at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on Sunday. The defending World Test Champions, South Africa, will begin a new chapter under stand-in captain Aiden Markram, as regular skipper Temba Bavuma misses the tour due to injury. The visitors will aim to maintain their reputation in red-ball cricket and start the series on a high note.

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Pakistan, meanwhile, are eager to bounce back after their disappointing Asia Cup 2025 campaign. Under the leadership of Shan Masood, the hosts will look to regain momentum and rebuild confidence in the longest format. A strong home performance is crucial for Pakistan, especially with the pressure mounting after recent struggles across formats. The series presents an ideal opportunity for their batters and bowlers to step up and deliver against a formidable South African side.

RSA vs PAK, 2025, 1st Test: Live Streaming Details 

RSA vs PAK, 2025, 1st Test: Probable Playing XI

South Africa

Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Senuran Muthusamy, Prenelan Subrayen, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer

Pakistan

Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Agha Salman, Saud Shakeel, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Sajid Khan, Nauman Ali, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi

The craze for Babar Azam was clearly visible at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Spectators in the gallery were eagerly waiting to see him bat as soon as possible. When Shan Masood, Pakistan's Test team captain, lost his wicket unexpectedly, it was celebrated loudly by the crowd as Babar was the man to bat next. 

On the turning pitch of Gaddafi Stadium, the home team batted with pure confidence on Day 1 of the first test of the Pakistan vs South Africa 2-match Test series. After the early dismissal of Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq and Masood drove the innings nicely. Even on Day 1, spinners were getting a lot of turns from the crease, so batting was not easy enough. Patiently, they built a 161-run partnership together. 

But the crowd perhaps did not have that amount of patience. A part of the crowd came to see the match live from the ground only for Babar Azam. They showed their support for the batter through posters while Masood, the captain of team Pakistan, was batting. The scene was new for former South Africa international Shaun Pollock. During the commentary work, he said on air, "I can't believe that they (crowd) want the captain of Pakistan to get out just to see Babar Azam at the crease."

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Pakistan's own fans cheering for captain's wicket

You won't see this any where.

He earned that with so many performances ♥️pic.twitter.com/SadhdkS11F

— Hassan Abbasian (@HassanAbbasian) October 12, 2025

The crowd cheered the moment when Prenelan Subrayen took Masood's wicket. The experienced batter took a review, but that did not work in favor of him, and he had to make way for the next batsman, Babar Azam. Masood departed after a well-made 76 off 147 deliveries with nine boundaries and one six. 

For Babar Azam, it was another disappointing knock. He started well but again could not convert the momentum for a big inning. Babar lost his scalp for only 23 runs against 48 balls. As soon as Babar lost his wicket, a part of the crowd left the gallery.

In a bold selection move, Pakistan have handed a maiden Test cap to 38-year-old left-arm spinner Asif Afridi for the first Test against South Africa, starting October 12 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The match marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for both sides, with Pakistan aiming for a strong start after finishing at the bottom in the previous edition.

Afridi, a seasoned domestic performer, has been rewarded for his consistency in the longer format, having taken 198 wickets in 57 first-class matches at an impressive average of 25.49. He will partner fellow veteran Nauman Ali, 39, who has 83 wickets in 19 Tests at 24.75. The spin duo is expected to play a crucial role on a surface that traditionally aids slow bowlers in Lahore.

Afridi’s inclusion comes after regular spinner Sajid Khan was ruled out due to a viral fever, opening the door for his long-awaited debut. Known for his accuracy and flight, Afridi’s story is also one of redemption, he was banned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in 2022 for failing to report a corrupt approach under the board’s Anti-Corruption Code. Having served his suspension and returned strongly to domestic cricket, he now finds himself in the national side, looking to make the most of this second chance.

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Masood begins Test captaincy stint with spin-heavy lineup against Proteas

The series also marks Shan Masood’s first assignment as Test captain. Pakistan have opted for a balanced combination, mixing experience with fresh energy. Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique will open the innings, followed by Masood at No. 3. Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, and Mohammad Rizwan form a solid middle order, while Salman Ali Agha retains his place despite an inconsistent Asia Cup campaign.

On the bowling front, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali will handle pace duties, with the focus clearly on spin dominance through Nauman and debutant Asif.

With a fresh WTC cycle underway, Pakistan will look to rebuild their red-ball reputation, especially on home soil, while South Africa, the defending WTC champions, aim to begin their campaign on a strong note. But against a spin-heavy Pakistani attack on turning tracks, it could be their sternest test yet.

Pakistan Playing XI: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Nauman Ali, and Asif Afridi.

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.

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.

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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. 

Pakistan's Test team captain Shan Masood, in a single attempt, ends Leicestershire's 22-year-long wait to qualify for Division One of the County Championship. With a target to gain promotion, the county club signed the experienced Pakistani batter on an all-format contract.

In a do-or-die situation, Masood smashed a hundred and secured the club's promotion to a higher level of England's domestic cricket. Leicestershire signed in the 35-year-old in 2025 to replace Peter Handscomb. On his bus debut match for Leicestershire, the middle-order batter played a crucial knock. Masood came into the middle as their number 5 batsman and scored 111 runs off 176 balls with 13 boundaries against Gloucestershire. Gloucestershire declared their second innings for 175 for 3 and set a target of 316 runs for Leicestershire from 74 overs. Before the lunch they already were one man down for only 17.

Later, a heavy rain interruption settled the match for a draw, which proved enough for them to get the much-awaited promotion. They last featured in Division One in 2003 and have since been playing in Division Two, finishing last on eight occasions. Masood scored his century during the first innings of the match. His partnership with Lewis Hill (88) proved to be an important factor in reducing the gap between the two teams. In the process, the southpaw batter also completed his 12,000 first-class runs. 

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Pakistan Test team captain's achivements in County Cricket

In the 2023-24 season, Masood, as a captain, played successfully for Yorkshire, the most successful club in the County Championship, by claiming 1240 runs from 15 matches, averaging around 53. With the help from his contributions, the 32-time champions were able to gain promotion back to Division One in 2024. 

Masood played his last Test match for Pakistan earlier this year against the West Indies. On January 3, 2025, against South Africa in Cape Town, the left-handed batter played a 145-run innings. 

ICC World Test Championship Points Table After PAK vs WI 2nd Test 2025

Pakistan and West Indies played two games at Multan Stadium. The West Indies won the second game and made both teams even both teams won one game each. In the second game, West Indies had a chance to hit the bowl first, but it was tough because Pakistan's bowlers were top rate bowlers. They only got 54 runs with 8 players down.

But then, players such as Gudakesh Motie, Jomel Warrican, and Kemar Roach scored a few runs and they finished with a total of 163 runs. Noman Ali from Pakistan did an amazing job with bowling and made 6 players down. When Pakistan went up to  bat they didn't do very well either. Mohammad Rizwan scored the highest number of runs, 49, and Saud Shakeel got 32 runs.

History made 🤩

West Indies pick up their first Test win in Pakistan since 1990 .
Also finished last in the WTC points table..#PAKvWI 📝 pic.twitter.com/yKLPmj1SQs

— ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ (@ihydrogen__) January 27, 2025

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That wasn't enough, and so Pakistan was behind by 9 runs. The West Indies did better in their second turn batting. Their team Captian Kraigg Brathwaite and a few others, such as Amir Jangoo, Tevin Imlach, and Kevin Sinclair, scored good runs to tell Pakistan they needed 254 runs to win.

Even their team Captain Shan Masood and Muhammad Hurraira didn't get many runs, and only Babar Azam got 31 runs. Mohammad Rizwan tried again, he got 29 runs, but it didn't work, and all of Pakistan got out with 133 runs. After these two games, West Indies felt very good because they hadn't won in Pakistan for 34 years. Pakistan needs to think through how to play better next time.

ICC Test Championship Updated Points Table After Pakistan vs West Indies 2nd Test 2025

The two-match Test series ended on a disappointing note for Pakistan. It was a show of brute force from South Africa as they rolled over the tourists and won the second Test by 10 wickets. However, after being skittled for 194 in the first innings, Pakistan stood tall and staged a gutsy fightback to keep themselves alive in the match. 

Shan Masood led from the front and opened the batting in the absence of Sam Ayub. His monumental contribution of 145 powered Pakistan to 478. His double-century plus opening stand with Babar helped Pakistan erase the deficit and make South Africa bat again, albeit for only a few overs. 

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Pakistan create history by surpassing a rare 136-year-long record

Pakistan re-wrote the record books following the conclusion of the second Test on Monday. After being asked to bat again, the visitors responded with a lot of character and posted 478 in the second innings to eke out a paltry 57 runs. The score of 478 is now the highest score by any visiting team in South Africa while following on in nearly 136 years. 

In the process, Pakistan also succeeded in breaking another record which stood since 1902. They become the first touring team to cross a total of 400 while following on in South Africa. The previous best follow-on record of 372-7 in Johannesburg belonged to Australia. However, the only record that remained intact was South Africa's follow-on total of 572 against England in Durban in 1999 which remains the highest-ever follow-on total recorded on South African soil. 

South Africa in the midst of a golden run in Test cricket

Fortunes for the South African cricket team changed drastically ever since Temba Bavuma took over the captaincy responsibilities. In this World Test Championship cycle, they've been victorious in eight out of 12 matches. The win against Pakistan in Cape Town marked their seventh consecutive Test win. 

The victory assured that South Africa will secure the top position in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings for the 2023-25 cycle, regardless of the outcomes of other matches. The Proteas are set to compete in their inaugural WTC final against the current champions, Australia, at Lord's in June.

The reigning champions of the 2020 Pakistan Super League (PSL), Karachi Kings, have revealed Shan Masood as their captain for the upcoming ninth edition of the tournament. The announcement was made by Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal ahead of the PSL Draft in Lahore.

Salman Iqbal stated, “Shan Masood will lead the Karachi Kings this year. He is the captain of our Test team but has also captained many teams, including Multan Sultans and Yorkshire. We believe our captain should be from Karachi.”

In a strategic move a few days prior, Karachi Kings secured the services of Pakistan’s new Test captain, Masood, through a trade deal with Multan Sultans, which involved parting ways with spinner Faisal Akram. With the departure of all-rounder Imad Wasim, the Kings sought the experienced leadership of Masood to fill the captaincy role.

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Simultaneously, Karachi Kings appointed Phil Simmons as their head coach for PSL 9. Known for his dual role as a star player and triumphant coach of the West Indies during the 2016 T20 World Cup, Simmons brings a wealth of experience and strategic prowess to the Karachi Kings camp.

Shan Masood is now set to lead the Kings in the upcoming ninth season, where the Karachi-based franchise aims to secure its second PSL title.

The recent days have witnessed significant changes, with players such as Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Naseem Shah making unexpected team switches. The Kings, notably, traded their captain and last season’s player of the tournament, Wasim, for Ali from Islamabad United.

It’s worth noting that the PCB released the list of all players acquired by the six franchises earlier, with several big and important names not being acquired by their respective teams.