Babar Azam Returns as Pakistan Test Captain

Pakistan have once again reshuffled their Test leadership, with Shan Masood removed as captain and Babar Azam reinstated for a second spell in charge of the national side. The Pakistan Cricket Board announced the decision while naming the squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies later this month, marking another significant change as the team looks to recover from a prolonged run of disappointing results.

Masood’s tenure has come to an end after a difficult period in which Pakistan struggled to produce consistent performances in the longest format. Having taken over the Test captaincy nearly three years ago, he led the side in 16 matches but oversaw defeat in 12 of them. That record leaves him with the unwanted distinction of becoming the first captain in Test history to lose 12 of his opening 16 matches in charge.

Among Pakistan’s Test captains, only Misbah-ul-Haq suffered more defeats overall, losing 19 matches across a much longer leadership stint of 56 Tests. Pakistan also endured seven consecutive Test defeats under Masood, equalling the country’s longest losing streak in Test cricket.

His captaincy began under particularly demanding circumstances with a tour of Australia, where Pakistan were comprehensively beaten 3-0. The side failed to recover momentum after that difficult introduction. Matters worsened when Bangladesh secured a historic 2-0 series victory in Pakistan, their first-ever Test series triumph over the hosts.

The only notable high point of Masood’s captaincy came later that year, when Pakistan bounced back impressively to defeat England in a home Test series. It proved to be the only series victory during his seven assignments as captain, while Pakistan lost four other series during the same period. The disappointing results left the team rooted to the bottom of the 2023–25 World Test Championship standings.

Although the team’s performances declined, Masood’s own batting showed signs of improvement. Since assuming the captaincy, he averaged 34.06 with the bat, a significant rise from his pre-captaincy Test average of 28.51. During that period he scored two Test centuries, including one in South Africa, and registered seven half-centuries. One of his standout displays came at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where he produced two half-centuries in the same Test.

Ironically, the leadership now returns to the man from whom Masood originally inherited the role. Babar Azam stepped down as captain across formats in 2023, and since then his batting form has declined noticeably. Under Masood’s captaincy, Babar averaged just over 27 in Test cricket, well below the exceptionally high standards he had previously established.

Even so, Babar’s first spell as Test captain was considerably more successful than that of his successor. Pakistan won 10 of the 20 Tests played under his leadership. His tenure began with an impressive 2-0 home series victory over South Africa and also featured commanding series sweeps against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka away from home. At the same time, Babar remained one of the world’s leading Test batters, maintaining an average above 50 while carrying the dual responsibility of captain and premier run-scorer.

His previous captaincy was not without setbacks. The most painful came when England completed a 3-0 whitewash in Pakistan, marking the first time the national side had ever suffered such a home Test series defeat. That result ultimately contributed to growing scrutiny of the team’s direction before Babar eventually relinquished the captaincy.

Now entrusted with the role once again, Babar faces an exceptionally demanding schedule in his second tenure. Pakistan will begin with the two-Test series against the West Indies before travelling to England for a three-match Test series, their first Test tour there in six years. A busy home season will then follow, with further Test assignments against New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision reflects its desire for greater stability and stronger results after an extended period of inconsistency. Whether Babar Azam can revive both his own form and Pakistan’s fortunes in Test cricket will become one of the defining questions of the team’s upcoming international campaign.