Pakistan have turned back to Babar Azam as their Test captain, ending Shan Masood’s time in charge after a difficult run of results.
Masood’s record
Appointed almost three years ago, Masood led Pakistan in 16 Tests and lost 12 of them. Among Pakistan captains with more than 10 Tests in charge, only Misbah-ul-Haq has lost more, with 19 defeats in 56 matches. His reign ended with seven successive Test defeats, equalling the longest losing run in Pakistan’s Test history.
It began with a 3-0 series loss in Australia, and later came a 2-0 home defeat to Bangladesh, Pakistan’s first ever Test series loss to them. The high point was a home series victory over England, the only series win of his tenure. Pakistan lost four of the seven series they played under him and finished the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle bottom of the table.
Personally, Masood batted better as captain. His Test average rose from 28.51 before he took the job to 34.06 during it. He made two centuries, one of them in South Africa, along with seven fifties, two of which came in the same Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Why Babar
The move suggests the Pakistan Cricket Board wants an experienced leader. Babar has struggled for runs since giving up the captaincy, averaging just over 27 in Tests while Masood was in charge, but he remains one of Pakistan’s most proven leaders.
In his first spell as Test captain Babar led in 20 matches, winning 10, and averaged 50 with the bat. That period also included a 3-0 home whitewash by England, the first time Pakistan had been swept 3-0 at home in a Test series.
What lies ahead
Pakistan play a series against the West Indies later this month, then tour England for three Tests, their first visit in six years. A busy home season follows, with New Zealand and Sri Lanka due later this year.
