Pakistan’s former captain Babar Azam reportedly agreed to take over the Test captaincy only after seeking assurances that he would be considered for the all-format captaincy in the future.
According to international media reports, selectors told Babar that if Pakistan performs well in the upcoming five-Test series against the West Indies and England, he could be reinstated as captain across all three formats.
The report claims that two selectors met Babar before the appointment of the Test captain, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was left with limited options following the team’s disappointing results under Shan Masood’s leadership.
Sources cited in the report alleged that Babar has consistently preferred leading Pakistan in all formats and was initially unwilling to accept the Test captaincy alone.
Babar stepped down as Pakistan’s all-format captain following the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. After his resignation, Shan Masood was appointed Test captain, while Shaheen Shah Afridi took charge of the white-ball side.
According to the report, Babar has expressed confidence in taking on leadership responsibilities again, saying he has learned from his previous experience and that his primary goal is to help Pakistan achieve greater success.
However, the Pakistan Cricket Board has not officially confirmed the reported discussions or the conditions mentioned in the media reports.
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