Babar Azam Returns as Pakistan Test Captain. The PCB confirmed on July 4, 2026 that Shan Masood has been removed from the Test captaincy and Babar will lead the side for the upcoming two-match series in the West Indies, starting July 25. It is a significant moment for Pakistan cricket after one of the most difficult captaincy tenures in recent history.
Why Shan Masood Was Removed
The numbers tell the story clearly. Masood led Pakistan in 16 Test matches. He won only three. He lost 12. That win percentage is one of the lowest for any Pakistan Test captain in the modern era.
The final blow came in Bangladesh. Pakistan were whitewashed 2-0, their first-ever Test series loss to Bangladesh at home. That result triggered an immediate review inside the PCB. Chairman Mohsin Naqvi held discussions with head coach Mike Hesson and senior selection committee members before approving Babar’s return to the Test captaincy.
Babar Azam’s Test Captaincy Record
Babar previously led Pakistan in 20 Test matches between 2019 and 2023. He won 10, lost 6, and drew 4. That 50 percent win rate makes him comfortably Pakistan’s most successful recent Test captain. He resigned from all captaincy roles after Pakistan’s poor 2023 ODI World Cup campaign in India.
His return gives Pakistan a captain with genuine experience at the highest level. He also brings individual batting quality. Babar is the only Pakistan captain in history to score centuries in all three formats while leading the side. For a deeper look at why that record stands apart, our full breakdown of Babar Azam’s captaincy records and seven biggest achievements tells the complete story of his leadership journey.
The Full Squad for the West Indies Test Series
The PCB has named a 15-member squad for the two Tests. The series will be played at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad and the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba. The first Test starts July 25.
Pakistan Test Squad: Babar Azam (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, and Ubaid Shah.
Key Changes in Squad
The spin department has been strengthened significantly. Off-spinner Sajid Khan and mystery spinner Ali Usman have both been selected. West Indies pitches traditionally offer turn as matches progress, making this a calculated decision by the selectors.
Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais have also been retained in the squad. They replaced the injured Saim Ayub and the out-of-form Abdullah Shafique in Bangladesh series.
What Shan Masood’s Exit Means
Masood has reportedly been offered the position of Director of International Cricket and Player Affairs by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. He had been offered the role previously but chose to complete the ongoing World Test Championship cycle as captain first. His situation now appears to have changed.
His tenure was not without moments. He led Pakistan to a memorable 2-1 series win over England at home in 2024. But the losses piled up far faster than the wins, and the Bangladesh whitewash proved to be the moment that ended an already difficult chapter.
Pakistan’s red-ball history is a complex one, and Masood’s time as captain will sit alongside some of the more turbulent periods covered in our long-form piece on the best cricket players in Pakistan cricket history, which captures exactly the standard every Pakistan captain is ultimately measured against.
Babar’s First Challenge in the West Indies
Pakistan head into the West Indies series on the back of poor recent Test form. They have now lost 12 of their last 17 Test matches. The West Indies, by contrast, are in genuine form. They just won the first Test against Sri Lanka by an innings and 217 runs. Kemar Roach claimed his 300th Test wicket in that match. Jayden Seales recently took his 100th.
This is not an easy assignment for a captain returning after more than two years away from the Test leadership role. But Babar’s individual batting quality, combined with a refreshed squad, gives Pakistan real reason to believe this series can mark the start of a genuine turnaround in their red-ball fortunes.
Conclusion
Babar Azam’s return to the Test captaincy is one of the biggest Pakistan cricket stories of 2026. The PCB has made a decisive call under pressure, replacing a captain who won just three of his 16 Tests with the man who won half of his 20. The West Indies tour starting July 25 is where this second chapter begins. Pakistan fans will be hoping it starts very differently from the chapter that just ended.
