Pakistan have reinstated Babar Azam as their Test captain for the upcoming tours of the West Indies and England
.Pakistan sack Shan Masood, reinstate Babar Azam as Test captain
Pakistan have reappointed Babar as Test captain for their upcoming tours of the West Indies and England. Babar had last led Pakistan in Test cricket on the Sri Lanka tour of 2023. In the aftermath of the 2023 World Cup, Babar resigned as captain in all three formats. He was recalled as T20I captain in 2024, but has not led Pakistan in any format since their first-round exit at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Masood had led Pakistan in the interim period. Under him, Pakistan have won four and lost 12 Test matches as captain. The win-loss ratio is the worst for any Pakistan captain who has led at least 10 times in the last 50 years.
Pakistan have named 16 members in their squad for the West Indies. Saud Shakeel, if fit, will join them in England as a 17th member.
The squad consists of four uncapped players – left-arm spinner Ali Usman; right-hand batter Muhammad Awais Zafar; right-arm seamer Ubaid Shah; and wicketkeeper Muhammad Ghazi Ghori.
Pakistan Test squads for the West Indies and England tours
Babar Azam (c), Mohammed Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Awais Zafar, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood, Ubaid Shah, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness, only for England tour).
Pakistan’s upcoming away men’s Test leg schedule
In the West Indies
July 25-29: First Test, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba
August 2-6: Second Test, Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain
In England
August 19-23: First Test, Headingley, Leeds
August 27-31: Second Test, Lord’s, London
September 9-13: Third Test, Birmingham, Edgbaston
