Babar Azam is officially back at the helm of Pakistan's Test side. Beginning his second stint as the national team's red-ball skipper, Babar is set to lead Pakistan in a two-match Test series against the West Indies.
He reclaims the leadership role from Shan Masood, who was removed earlier this month following a highly disappointing set of results.
Ahead of the opening Test, a confident Babar addressed the media, stating that he is feeling no burden in his returning role.
"There is no pressure. I am confident, and the responsibility has been given to me again. The main thing is that you have to get the players to perform," Babar told reporters on the eve of the match.
On his focus on team success, he added, "The only thing that matters to me is that Pakistan
wins. My past experience as the captain taught me a lot, and I will try to make the right decisions for Pakistan cricket. "
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made the leadership change after the team suffered 12 defeats in 16 matches during Masood's tenure. Masood had initially replaced Babar in late 2023, but the team's ongoing struggles to close out games forced the selectors to act decisively.
Aaqib Javed, selector and PCB director of high performance, explained the reasoning behind the switch. "We wanted to look for a captain who could lead the team in a much better way," he stated. Javed specifically noted the team's repeated failures to dismiss lower-order batters in overseas conditions whether in Australia, South Africa, or Bangladesh"which pointed towards significant issues in on-field leadership and game management.
To ensure long-term stability, the PCB plans to give Babar a two to three-year run as captain, backing him to rebuild the squad without the immediate threat of being judged series-by-series.
A Fresh Start in the Caribbean for Babar Azam
Babar previously served as Test captain in 2021, leading the team in 20 matches. Under his leadership during that stint, Pakistan secured 10 wins, drew four games, and lost six.
The camp appears to be in high spirits ahead of the West Indies challenge. Pakistan enjoyed a solid build-up in their practice match, where Babar himself struck a brilliant century to find his rhythm.
"Playing in the West Indies is always challenging because the conditions can be different and the home side is very competitive, especially in their own backyard," Babar told PCB Digital.
With renewed clarity and the strong backing of the board, Babar Azam is now focused on steering Pakistan back to winning ways in the longest format of the game.
