The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and coach Jason Gillespie have shown faith in Shan Masood and want him to continue as the Test captain of the Pakistan team ahead of the upcoming 2024-25 season. However, Babar Azam's position as the white-ball captain has been under scanners following a horrid exit from the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024 and a decision on his leadership in the T20I and ODI format has been put on hold for a while.
Pakistan team is set to play two Tests against Bangladesh and then a three-match Test series against England at their home. Shan Masood will be leading their team in that. Their next white-ball assignement will be in November when they will tour Australia for three ODIs and three T20Is
Shan Masood to continue lead Test side
PCB held a meeting that was attended by senior board officials, national selectors, red-ball coach Jason Gillespie, white-ball coach Gary Kirsten, and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood. The big topic of discussion was Pakistan's embarrassing performance in the recent T20 World Cup held in the USA and West Indies. Masood, who became Pakistan Test captain ahead of the tour to Australia earlier this year, got a complete vote of confidence.
"The meeting was held to discuss ways to move forward with a comprehensive blueprint for the national team in red and white ball formats, Shan got the support at the meeting to continue as Test captain for the upcoming series against Bangladesh, England, South Africa and the West Indies between August and January," stated a source aware of the developments to PTI
Call on Babar's future put on hold
However, the bigger take from this meeting was that no decision was taken on Babar Azam's future as the white ball captain despite his performance both as captain and batter being the target of massive criticism. Former Pakistan fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz raised his voice to sack the entire selection committee as they had shown collective incompetence in the ICC event and in the build-up to it.
"The selection committee has worked collectively and should be sacked collectively for their failure and incompetence. I am on record to have written letters to Zaka (Ashraf) and (Mohsin) Naqvi regarding Wahab’s suspected past and his lack of abilities as an administrator. Nobody paid heed to my suggestion. I knew well that Wahab was not capable of delivering in any capacity yet he was made selector, advisor and manager. On all fronts he failed," PTI quoted Nawaz.
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