Pakistan batter Babar Azam reportedly agreed to return as the national Test captain only after receiving assurances that he could eventually be entrusted with leadership across all three formats, according to a media report. Babar, who previously stepped down as Pakistan's all-format captain in 2023, was reappointed as Test skipper earlier this month following a disappointing run of results under Shan Masood. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not officially commented on the reported conditions attached to Babar's return.
According to a report by Telecom Asia Sport, two members of the national selection committee met Babar before his appointment as Test captain on July 5. The report claimed that selectors viewed him as the most suitable candidate for the red-ball role after Pakistan's struggles under Shan Masood. During the discussions, Babar is said to have accepted the offer only after making it clear that he wanted the opportunity to lead the national team in all three formats if results improved.
The report further claimed that selectors assured Babar he would be considered for full-time all-format captaincy if Pakistan performed well during the upcoming five-Test assignments against the West Indies and England. Babar had reportedly expressed a long-standing preference for leading the side across Tests, One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), rather than serving as captain in only one format. These claims have not been independently confirmed by the PCB.
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Pakistan's leadership structure has undergone several changes in recent years. Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi currently leads the ODI side after previously serving as T20I captain before being replaced following a single series in 2024. Meanwhile, Shan Masood's tenure as Test captain came under scrutiny after Pakistan reportedly lost 12 of the 16 Test matches played under his leadership since taking charge in December 2023, prompting selectors to look for a new direction.
The report also stated that selectors initially approached Salman Agha for the Test captaincy before turning to Babar. Salman reportedly declined the role, citing concerns over the team's form and cohesion, while also facing criticism over Pakistan's performances in the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Pakistan failed to progress to the semi-finals of the tournament after defeats to India in the group stage and England in the Super Six phase.
Babar had stepped down from Pakistan's all-format captaincy in November 2023 following the team's early exit from the ODI World Cup in India. According to the report, he had previously declined an offer to captain only the Test side because he preferred to either lead in all formats or not captain at all. During his previous stint as Test captain, Babar guided Pakistan in 20 matches, recording 10 victories, six defeats and four draws. Whether he will eventually regain leadership across all formats is expected to depend on Pakistan's performances in the coming months and any future decisions by the PCB.
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