Mumbai, July 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Pakistan batter Babar Azam reportedly agreed to take charge as the Test captain only after seeking assurance that he would eventually be considered for leadership across all three formats, according to a report.
Babar was appointed Pakistan’s Test captain after Shan Masood’s disappointing run in red-ball cricket, with selectors approaching him as their preferred option for the role. The report claimed that Babar accepted the responsibility on the condition that he would also regain leadership duties in white-ball formats.
Sources quoted in the report said selectors informed Babar that a successful run in the upcoming five-Test assignments against the West Indies and England could pave the way for him to become Pakistan’s all-format captain.
Babar had stepped down from captaincy across formats in November 2023 following Pakistan’s early exit from the ODI World Cup in India. The report claimed he had previously declined an offer to lead only the Test side, as he wanted responsibility for all formats.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took nearly two months to finalise the Test captaincy decision after Shan Masood’s struggles. Masood lost 12 of the 16 Tests he captained since taking charge in December 2023.
The selectors had also approached Salman Ali Agha for the Test captaincy, but he reportedly declined the offer. Meanwhile, Shaheen Shah Afridi remains Pakistan’s ODI captain, though his tenure as T20I skipper ended after just one series in 2024.
Babar’s Test record remains among Pakistan’s better recent captaincy figures, with 10 victories, six defeats and four draws in 20 matches.
Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has also predicted that Babar could lead the national team in the next ODI World Cup, amid speculation over future leadership changes.
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