Lahore—Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood is reportedly set to be removed from leadership following the national team’s continued poor performances in red-ball cricket.
According to media reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering handing over the Test captaincy to current vice-captain Saud Shakeel, with an official announcement expected soon.
The decision appears to be nearly finalized and comes shortly after reports surfaced that Misbah-ul-Haq could be appointed as the new head coach of the Test team — although PCB has yet to confirm the appointment.
Shan Masood was appointed Test captain in November 2023, but the team’s performance under his leadership has been disappointing. Notably, Pakistan suffered a historic home defeat against Bangladesh, their first such loss on home soil to the Tigers.
Under Shan’s leadership, Pakistan played 12 Test matches, winning only 3 and losing 9, contributing to a dismal run in the ICC World Test Championship 2023–25, where the team currently sits in 9th place.
Selectors and team management are reportedly concerned over Shan’s ineffective strategies and lack of impactful leadership, which have played a key role in the team’s recent struggles.
