Babar Azam I’m back in PakistanTest captaincy before important tours of the team west indies And Englandto replace Shan Masood After Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Opted for change of leadership. While the decision was widely discussed, PCB’s High Performance Director Aaqib Javed Now it is explained why the board reinstated Babar as the captain of the longest format.
This is why Babar Azam replaced Shan Masood as Pakistan’s Test captain
According to PCB high performance director Javed, Pakistan’s decision to bring back Babar as Test captain was driven by concerns over recurring leadership and game-management issues rather than the team’s individual performance. Speaking on a recent podcast with the former Pakistan captain Salman ButtJaved explained that the board wanted a long-term solution after identifying strategic shortcomings that repeatedly occurred during foreign assignments. He also confirmed that the PCB intends to give Babar an extended chance as captain as Pakistan prepares for demanding Test series against the West Indies and England.
Javed revealed that Pakistan’s inability to finish the innings by dismissing the opposition lower-order batsmen has become a major concern for the management. According to him, the pattern remained unchanged despite different playing conditions and bowling attacks in different countries, which shows that the problem goes beyond the players on the field.
“We have brought back Babar Azam because the same problems keep recurring. Be it in Australia, South Africa, West Indies or recently in Bangladesh, the opposition’s tail-enders have continued to let us down. The conditions and bowlers changed, but the results remained the same and this points to issues in leadership and game management.” Javed said.
The former Pakistan fast bowler stressed that the board is looking beyond short-term results and wants a captain who is able to bring consistency to the team over the next few years. He expressed confidence that Babar has evolved into a more mature leader since his previous stint as Test captain and believes the star batsman can guide Pakistan in the crucial phase of red-ball cricket.
“I believe Babar is mature enough to lead the team again. He is one of our key players and we plan to give him a chance as captain for two to three years. Every captain brings a new mentality and we hope he inspires the team with his performances.” Javed added.
The PCB recently confirmed Babar’s return as Pakistan’s Test captain, marking his return to the role after previously leading the national team between 2020 and 2023.
Also read: Babar Azam named Test captain as Pakistan unveils squad for West Indies and England tour
Masood’s tenure has ended after a difficult period
Babar replaced Masood, whose tenure as Pakistan’s Test captain lasted for 16 matches. During that period, Pakistan could only manage four wins, while suffered 12 losses, resulting in a win percentage of 25. Masood’s captaincy began with a challenging tour of Australia, where Pakistan suffered a 3–0 defeat. Although he led the team to a remarkable 2–1 home Test series win over England in 2024, inconsistent performances continued to overshadow that success.
The final chapter of his leadership came with a disappointing 2–0 defeat in the home series against Bangladesh in May, a result that intensified scrutiny of Pakistan’s direction in the longest format. With Babar back, the PCB is hopeful that the team can rediscover stability ahead of the busy international calendar.
Pakistan is scheduled to leave for the West Indies on July 13 before playing four-day practice matches from July 18. They will then participate in a two-Test series in Trinidad and Tobago from July 25–29 and August 2–6.
After the Caribbean tour, Pakistan will travel to England for a three-match Test series. The first Test will be played at Headingley from 19-23 August, followed by matches at Lord’s (27-31 August) and Edgbaston (9-13 September), where Babar will have an immediate opportunity to justify the PCB’s new faith in his leadership.
Also read: Misbah-ul-Haq explains why Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah were dropped from Pakistan’s Test team
