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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced a 16-member Test squad for the upcoming tours of the West Indies and England, with Babar Azam appointed as captain, replacing Shan Masood.
The squad includes Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, Abdullah Fazal, Salman Ali Agha, Ghazi Ghori, Mohammad Rizwan, Sajid Khan, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Ubaid Shah, Owais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad. Middle-order batter Saud Shakeel was not considered for selection due to fitness concerns.
Pakistan will begin the tour with a warm-up match in Tarouba on July 18 before taking on the West Indies in the opening Test from July 25 to 29 at the same venue.
Speaking at the announcement, PCB Director High Performance Aaqib Javed said the selection committee decided to make a leadership change after assessing the team’s performances across formats. He noted that although Shan Masood had performed well individually, the team’s results under his captaincy had not met expectations, prompting the decision to appoint a new leader. He also expressed concern over the pace of Pakistan’s fast bowlers and stressed the need for improvements.
Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, a member of the selection panel, said consistency remains the key to success in international cricket. He emphasized that both players and captains are evaluated on sustained performances, adding that continuity is essential for achieving long-term success.
