Shan Masood will continue to lead Pakistan’s Test cricket team for the 2025–27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. This decision comes even though Pakistan finished at the bottom in the last edition of the tournament.
The announcement was made after Shan Masood met with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood. The PCB expressed confidence in Masood’s leadership and confirmed that both he and Mahmood will have full freedom in making decisions for the red-ball team.
Recently, Masood’s central contract was downgraded, but he still holds the distinction of being Pakistan’s longest-serving active captain. While his overall record as captain has not been very strong, his personal batting performance has shown clear improvement, which has kept him in the role.
Pakistan’s new World Test Championship journey will begin with a challenging two-Test home series against the defending champions, South Africa. This series will be an early test for Masood and his team as they aim to improve Pakistan’s standing in the competition.
The decision to retain Shan Masood reflects PCB’s intention to bring stability to the team and give him more time to build a stronger side under the guidance of Azhar Mahmood. Both leadership and consistency will be key for Pakistan as they enter this new cycle.
