Pakistan’s Test captaincy picture remains clear, with Shan Masood retaining the leadership role for the upcoming two-match series against Bangladesh in August. This decision emerged from a high-level meeting of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday.
“PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi endorsed the recommendation to retain Shan Masood as Test captain,” revealed a well-placed source within the board. “He is likely to lead Pakistan throughout the season, which includes series against England, West Indies, and a South Africa tour later.”
Masood, a 34-year-old opening batsman, previously captained Pakistan during the recent series against Australia, which resulted in a 0-3 whitewash. Despite the disappointing outcome, the board seems to be placing its trust in Masood’s long-term leadership potential. In his 33 Test appearances for Pakistan, he has amassed 1778 runs with an average of 28.7 per innings.
An official announcement regarding Masood’s captaincy is expected within the coming days.
The news source further revealed plans for a pre-series training camp for potential players in the second week of August. This camp will likely be held in Rawalpindi upon the return of red-ball coach Jason Gillespie, who will be accompanying the team to Australia beforehand.
The question of captaincy for the ODI and T20 formats, particularly for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, remains unanswered. “The PCB chairman is yet to make a decision on the white-ball captain,” stated the source. “Consultations with key cricketers are expected over the next few weeks before a final call is made.”
With Masood confirmed for the Test series, Pakistan cricket fans will be eagerly waiting to see who takes the reins of the white-ball teams in the lead-up to the prestigious Champions Trophy.