Babar Azam returns as Pakistan Test captain with all-format demand: Report
Synopsis
Babar Azam didn't just accept Pakistan's Test captaincy — he negotiated for it. According to reports, he agreed to take the red-ball role only after selectors promised him a path to all-format leadership, contingent on results in five Tests against the West Indies and England. It is a power play that reveals how much leverage Babar retains inside Pakistani cricket, even after his 2023 exit.
Key Takeaways
Babar Azam accepted Pakistan's Test captaincy on the condition of eventually leading all three formats, according to a report dated 27 July .
Selectors met Babar before the 5 July announcement, reportedly having no other viable red-ball candidate.
The all-format promise is tied to performance across five Tests in the West Indies and England .
Shan Masood lost 12 of 16 Tests as captain since December 2023 , prompting the leadership review.
Salman Agha turned down the captaincy offer before selectors approached Babar.
Former batter Basit Ali has predicted Babar will captain Pakistan at the ODI World Cup next year.
Babar Azam agreed to return as Pakistan's Test captain only after securing a conditional promise of all-format leadership, according to a report by Telecom Asia Sport published on Monday, 27 July. The development sheds light on the behind-the-scenes negotiations that preceded the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)'s formal captaincy announcement on 5 July.
The Condition Babar Set
According to sources cited in the report, two selectors met Babar before the captaincy announcement, acknowledging they had no viable alternative for red-ball leadership. 'Two selectors met Babar before the announcement of the Test captain on July 5 as they had no option other than Babar for red-ball captaincy and Babar accepted the role on condition of getting the captaincy in the other two formats as well,' sources told the publication.
The selectors reportedly responded by tying the all-format promise to performance: if Pakistan do well across their upcoming five Tests in the West Indies and England, Babar would be handed the full captaincy across all three formats.
Why Babar Had Stepped Away in 2023
Babar had voluntarily stepped down from all-format captaincy in November 2023, reportedly after being offered only the Test role — a proposition he declined at the time. Sources indicate that the then-PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf had wanted to remove Babar following Pakistan's early exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Upon learning that Shan Masood was already present in Ashraf's office during a scheduled meeting, Babar chose to step down from all three formats rather than accept a diminished role.
His Test record as captain was creditable — 10 wins, 6 losses, and 4 draws from 20 matches — making his eventual return to the role largely expected once Masood's tenure faltered.
Shan Masood's Troubled Reign
The PCB spent approximately two months deliberating before settling on Babar, as Masood's red-ball record proved difficult to defend. Masood lost 12 of the 16 Tests he captained since December 2023, a run that eroded confidence in the leadership group. The board's hesitation in acting swiftly drew criticism from several quarters within Pakistani cricket.
Salman Agha Turned It Down
Before approaching Babar, selectors reportedly reached out to Salman Agha, who politely declined. Sources suggest Agha was reluctant to inherit a squad struggling with cohesion and form. Agha himself has faced scrutiny as T20I captain, with critics arguing he was overly defensive during the T20I World Cup held in February–March 2025 — a tournament in which Pakistan failed to reach the semi-finals after defeats to India in the group stage and England in the Super Sixes.
Shaheen's Captaincy and What Comes Next
Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi currently holds the ODI captaincy, though his own leadership journey has been turbulent. He was removed as T20I captain after just one series in 2024, following a series loss in New Zealand. Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has predicted that Babar will lead Pakistan at the ODI World Cup next year, suggesting it is already widely expected that Salman will not retain the T20I captaincy, with that role too eventually moving to Babar. 'A lot of people believe that once Shaheen gets injured and misses a series, Pakistan will have a chance to appoint Babar as all-format captain,' Ali was quoted as saying.
Whether the PCB follows through on its reported commitment to Babar will depend heavily on how Pakistan perform in their upcoming red-ball assignments.
Point of View
Not strategic. The PCB spent two months after Masood's decline before acting, then reportedly approached Salman Agha first — only to circle back to the player they had pushed out in 2023. Babar extracting a conditional all-format promise before accepting the role is less a power grab and more a symptom of an institution that has repeatedly made captaincy personal rather than institutional. Until the PCB builds a leadership pipeline that does not depend on one player's availability and willingness, this cycle of exits, replacements, and returns will continue.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Babar Azam return as Pakistan's Test captain?
Babar Azam returned as Pakistan's Test captain after Shan Masood's poor results — losing 12 of 16 Tests since December 2023 — left selectors with few alternatives. According to reports, Babar accepted the role on the condition that he would eventually be handed all-format captaincy if Pakistan perform well in upcoming Tests.
What condition did Babar Azam set for accepting the Test captaincy?
Babar reportedly told selectors he would accept the Test role only if he was given captaincy across all three formats — Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. Selectors agreed in principle, tying the all-format appointment to Pakistan's results in five Tests against the West Indies and England.
Why did Babar Azam step down from captaincy in 2023?
Babar stepped down from all-format captaincy in November 2023 after Pakistan's early exit from the ODI World Cup in India. Reports indicate PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf wanted to remove him, and upon learning Shan Masood was already in the chairman's office during a scheduled meeting, Babar chose to resign from all three formats rather than accept a reduced role.
Who is currently Pakistan's ODI and T20I captain?
Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi currently holds the ODI captaincy, while Salman Agha has been serving as T20I captain. Both roles are reportedly under review, with former batter Basit Ali predicting Babar will eventually take over all formats.
What was Shan Masood's record as Pakistan Test captain?
Shan Masood won just 4 of the 16 Tests he captained since December 2023, losing 12. His record prompted the PCB to conduct a leadership review that ultimately led to Babar Azam's return as Test captain.
