Babar Back in Charge as Pakistan Seek a Fresh Start
Pakistan have turned back to Babar Azam to steady the Test ship, confirming his reinstatement as Test captain ahead of a demanding summer schedule that includes three fixtures on English soil. Selector Aaqib Javed confirmed the decision on Sunday, stating plainly: "Babar will be our new Test captain as we feel that Masood could not lead as desired. The selection committee discussed who could be the best player to lead Pakistan and Babar is the best option." It is a frank assessment of a difficult period for Pakistani cricket, and Babar will be hoping to bring some much-needed stability to a side that has been in freefall.
Masood's Numbers Tell a Damning Story
It is hard to argue with the logic behind the change when you look at the record. Shan Masood took over the Test captaincy from Babar in December 2023 and presided over 13 defeats in just 16 matches — a win percentage that simply cannot be tolerated at international level. Pakistan finished at the very bottom of the 2023–25 World Test Championship cycle in ninth place, and things have not improved in the new cycle either. A 2–0 series loss in Bangladesh in May, a country that had never previously beaten Pakistan in a Test series at home, summed up the dire state of affairs. As a former coach myself, I know how quickly confidence can erode in a dressing room when results keep going the wrong way, and Pakistan desperately needed a change in direction.
Babar's Return: What He Brings to the Role
Babar Azam is no stranger to the captaincy, having first led the Test side back in November 2020. He stepped away from the role across all formats following a disappointing 2023 World Cup campaign, then returned briefly to skipper the T20 side at the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup before stepping back from limited-overs leadership last October to concentrate on his batting. With 4,481 runs in 62 Tests at an average of 42.67, his credentials with the bat remain beyond question. The challenge now is whether he can translate that individual quality into collective leadership at a time when Pakistan need it most. For bettors keeping an eye on the upcoming England series, Babar's return will likely shorten Pakistan's odds in the outright series market — he brings both credibility and experience that Masood simply could not provide.
Squad Changes and the Road Ahead
There are notable changes to the squad beyond the captaincy. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali have been dropped after featuring in Bangladesh, making way for some fresh faces. Uncapped 20-year-old pace bowler Ubaid Shah — younger brother of Naseem Shah — earns his first call-up, while middle-order batsman Awais Zafar and left-arm spinner Ali Usman have also been included for the first time. Pakistan's summer begins with back-to-back Tests against the West Indies on 25 July and 2 August, before three Tests in England at Headingley (19 August), Lord's (27 August) and Edgbaston (9 September). Saud Shakeel has been included but remains subject to fitness ahead of the England leg.
Pakistan's Test summer is a genuine fork in the road. Babar Azam has the talent and the experience to be a transformative captain once more, but results will need to improve quickly. Three Tests in England, starting at Headingley in August, will provide a rigorous early examination of whether this change of leadership can genuinely shift Pakistan's fortunes — or whether deeper structural problems remain.
