Pakistan Squad for West Indies and England Tours Announced: Babar Azam Reinstated As Test Captain; Shaheen Shah Afridi Dropped
Babar Azam has been reappointed as Pakistan's Test captain, replacing Shan Masood, who was sacked after a disappointing run including 12 losses in 16 matches. The announcement was made by the PCB on July 5, 2026. Azam will lead Pakistan in crucial ICC World Test Championship series against West Indies (July 25-Aug 6) and England (Aug 19-Sep 13), with four.
In a decisive move announced today, July 5, 2026, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reinstalled Babar Azam as the Test captain, marking his second stint at the helm of the red-ball side. The decision, revealed during a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, sees Shan Masood relieved of his duties after a tenure marred by inconsistent performances and significant defeats. England Beat India by 4 Wickets in IND vs ENG 2nd T20I 2026; Jacob Bethell's Blitz Seals 1-0 Lead For Three Lions.
Masood's captaincy, which began in November 2023, saw Pakistan finish at the bottom of the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship standings, winning just one of seven Test series. Under his leadership, the team suffered 12 losses in 16 matches, enduring a seven-match losing streak that equaled the longest in Pakistan's Test history. Pakistan's high-performance director, Aaqib Javed, attributed the change to a failure in achieving 'desired results' and the team's recurring inability to capitalize on winning positions.
Ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been dropped from both tours, while middle-order batter Saud Shakeel is named for the England series, but his availability is subject to fitness clearance.
Upcoming Challenges: West Indies and England Tours
Babar Azam's immediate task will be to guide Pakistan through two crucial overseas assignments forming part of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle. Pakistan currently languishes in ninth place in the WTC standings with a Points Percentage (PCT) of 8.33.
Pakistan's Tour of West Indies (2 Tests)
The team will first travel to the Caribbean for a two-match Test series against the West Indies:
| Match | Date | Venue | Time (PKT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | July 25-29, 2026 | Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad | TBC |
| 2nd Test | August 2-6, 2026 | Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, Trinidad | TBC |
Pakistan's Tour of England (3 Tests)
Following the West Indies series, Pakistan will head to England for a challenging three-match Test series:
| Match | Date | Venue | Time (Local/UK) | Time (PKT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | August 19-23, 2026 | Headingley, Leeds | 11:00 AM | 3:00 PM |
| 2nd Test | August 27-31, 2026 | Lord's, London | 11:00 AM | 3:00 PM |
| 3rd Test | September 9-13, 2026 | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 11:00 AM | 3:00 PM |
Match timings for the West Indies series are yet to be confirmed, but the England Tests are scheduled for an 3:30 PM IST start. Axar Patel Becomes First Indian Spinner to 100 Wickets in T20Is, Achieves Feat During IND vs ENG 2nd T20I 2026.
Squads Feature Four New Faces
The PCB has announced a 16-member squad for the West Indies series and a 17-member squad for the England tour, which includes the conditional inclusion of Saud Shakeel, subject to fitness. Notably, four uncapped players have been given an opportunity to debut, signaling the board's intent to broaden its talent pool.
New Faces in the Test Squad:
Ali Usman (Left-arm spinner)
Muhammad Awais Zafar (Right-handed batter)
Ubaid Shah (Right-arm fast bowler)
Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (Wicket-keeper batter)
Shan Masood, despite being replaced as captain, has been retained as a player in both squads. Babar Azam's return to captaincy comes at a crucial juncture for Pakistan Test cricket, as the team looks to regain its footing in the World Test Championship and instill a fresh sense of stability and confidence within the squad.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 05, 2026 02:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
