Babar Azam has been reappointed as Pakistan’s Test captain, replacing Shan Masood ahead of the upcoming tours of the West Indies and England.
It marks Azam’s third stint as Test skipper after previous spells ended in 2023 and 2024. Masood steps down after leading Pakistan to just four wins in 16 Tests, with the team currently placed ninth in the World Test Championship standings.
Selectors also dropped fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali, while uncapped players Ubaid Shah, Awais Zafar and Ali Usman earned maiden Test call-ups.
Pakistan squad:
Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori, Sajid Khan, Salman Agha, Shan Masood, Ubaid Shah, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness for England)