Star batter Babar Azam is reportedly set to become Pakistan’s Test captain again, with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said to have approved the move after recommendations from the selection committee.
According to sources, the formal announcement could come today or on Monday, paving the way for Babar Azam’s latest return to a leadership role in the national side.
If confirmed, it would mark another major turn in Pakistan’s captaincy cycle. Babar was first appointed all-format captain in 2020 before stepping down from the role in 2023.
He was then brought back as white-ball captain in March 2024 but resigned from that position in October 2024. His expected appointment as Test captain in 2026 would make it his third spell in a top leadership role for Pakistan.
The move comes after Shan Masood’s difficult run as Test captain. Since taking charge in late 2023, Pakistan managed just two wins in 16 Tests, with the latest blow being a 0-2 series defeat to Bangladesh in May.
Babar’s supporters within the board are believed to see him as a safer long-term option in red-ball cricket, especially given his previous record in the format as captain. Between 2020 and 2023, he led Pakistan in 20 Tests and won 10 of them, including a rare away series victory in Sri Lanka.
However, the likely decision also comes at a time when Babar Azam’s own batting form has been under scrutiny, with his recent Test average reportedly falling below 25.
Even so, the board appears to be leaning toward experience and stability as it looks to reset the Test side after another disappointing stretch. If the announcement comes through, Babar will once again find himself at the center of Pakistan cricket’s leadership debate.
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