Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has restored Babar Azam As captain of the national Test team before the challenging tours of west indies And Englandwith selector Aaqib Javed Revealing that the decision was taken unanimously after extensive discussion. The move marks Babar’s return to Test leadership Shan Masood While the former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq He has also expressed his support behind this appointment and stressed that the star batsman remains indispensable in all three formats of the game.
Aaqib Javed told about the selection committee’s decision to re-appoint Babar Azam as Test captain.
Addressing the media at the Gaddafi Stadium after the PCB officially announced the leadership change, Aaqib explained that the selectors carefully evaluated every possible option before recommending Babar Azam as the ideal candidate to lead the Test team.
According to Aaqib, the primary objective of the committee was to identify the most suitable player to guide Pakistan in the longest format during two tough overseas tours. He emphasized that although many aspects were debated during the meeting, the panel ultimately reached full consensus on one name.
“The selection committee sat and had a detailed discussion. They assessed which player could prove to be the best captain in Test cricket. There were many discussions, but the selection committee made only one recommendation, and that was Babar Azam. That’s all,” Aaqib was quoted as saying by JioSuperTV.
Babar’s appointment marks a return to familiar territory after captaining Pakistan in Test cricket from 2020 to 2023. During that tenure, he led the team in 20 Test matches, recording 10 wins, six losses and four drawn games. His experience was seen as a major factor as Pakistan prepares for important overseas series in the Caribbean and England.
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Misbah-ul-Haq supports Babar in all formats
Former Pakistan captain Misbah also welcomed the decision and argued that Babar’s recent performances have calmed many concerns over his place in the national team. Misbah admitted that questions had been raised about Babar’s T20 strike rate in the past, but pointed to his excellent campaign in the recent Pakistan Super League as evidence that the right-handed batsman has adapted his game. Babar was the leading run-scorer in the tournament and led his franchise to the title, strengthening his case for continued leadership responsibilities.
“Earlier the only question mark over Babar Azam’s selection was in the T20Is, mainly due to his strike rate. However, the way he performed in the PSL recently saw clear improvement. He still has immense value in the shorter format as well. He finished as the top scorer of the tournament and led his team to the title.” Misbah said.
Misbah further said that Babar is one of Pakistan’s most dependable cricketers regardless of the format, adding that the future team combination should determine his role rather than doubting his abilities. He highlighted Babar’s proven record in One Day Internationals and his achievements in Test cricket, while also saying that there is still scope for the batsman to reach greater heights. Misbah described Babar as Pakistan’s technically best batsman and praised his consistency over the years.
According to the former captain, the responsibility of the management is to provide Babar with clarity, confidence and a role that allows him to deliver the performances that have made him one of Pakistan’s most influential cricketers. With the West Indies and England tours approaching, the PCB believes that reinstating an experienced leader gives Pakistan the best chance of success in the red-ball format.
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