Overview
- Babar Azam was reinstated as Pakistan’s Test captain on Monday, July 6, after selectors removed Shan Masood and kept Masood in the squad as a batter.
- Babar has said he will not compromise on discipline, fitness and performance and credited a recent National Cricket Academy red-ball camp for preparing players for long-format demands.
- Selectors named a refreshed squad for tours to the West Indies and England that omits several senior fast bowlers and includes multiple uncapped players, signalling a clear youth-first reset.
- Pakistan will open a two-Test series in the West Indies starting July 25 and then play three Tests in England beginning August 19, which selectors and Babar describe as immediate tests of the reset.
- Media reports say the PCB is reviewing T20I leadership and that Babar is a leading candidate to return there, but the board has not issued any official T20I captaincy decision.