Shan Masood to step down from Pakistan Test Captaincy (AI generated image)
Shan Masood-led Pakistan National Team suffered a humiliating 2-0 whitewash in the recently concluded Bangladesh vs Pakistan Test series.
With a comprehensive 78-run victory on Day 5 of the second Test at the Sylhet International Cricket on Wednesday, this marked the Bangla Tigers’ first clean sweep in a Test series against Pakistan at home and second overall, after the 2-0 win in Pakistan back in 2024.
It is worth noting that throughout the series, under Najmul Hossain Shanto’s leadership, Bangladesh outclassed the visitors across all three departments, proving that their rising dominance in Test cricket is no fluke.
Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood under fire
Notably, the visiting team, Pakistan, suffered many lapses in the 2-match Test series. Captain Masood admitted that allowing Bangladesh to post 390 runs in the second innings of the latest match proves their rivals simply played better cricket.
Reflecting on his team’s overall form, Shan Masood said that they could have made better tactical decisions and executed their plans more effectively.
It is further worth noting that the back-to-back losses to Bangladesh significantly reduced Pakistan’s PCT in the World Test Championship (WTC 2025-27) points table.
During the series loss, the Shan Masood-led Test team slipped three spots. Previously ranked 5th, they have now dropped to the 8th spot in the nine-team championship.
Shan Masood all but OUT after the historic loss in Bangladesh
Only hours after the defeat, assertions have emerged that Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood is set to step down from the leadership role.
Notably, it was earlier reported that the national think tank had already begun reinstating a new red-ball captain for the remaining matches of the ICC WTC 2025-27 cycle, with Pakistan scheduled to play six more Tests this year.
The defeat at the hands of hosts Bangladesh has further sparked backlash in Pakistan, with the current skipper, Masood, and his own batting coming under scrutiny.
Also read: Ugly Fight Breaks Out Between Shan Masood And Mushfiqur Rahim In BAN vs PAK Sylhet Test
Barring the 71 in the 2nd Test, Masood has failed in the series, adding to the pressure on a captaincy tenure that had already produced a damaging sequence of results.
Thus, now that Shan Masood is reportedly stepping down, in this article, let’s explore the potential options that Pakistan selectors may consider for the red-ball leadership role.
3 Current Players Who Can Be Shan Masood's replacement for Pakistan Test Captaincy
3. Salman Ali Agha
Salman Ali Agha made his international captaincy debut on November 18, 2024, during his third T20 match against Australia at Bellerive Oval, Hobart.
A right-handed middle-order batsman and off-break bowler, Salman was chosen by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi at a time when the national team was sinking into a whirlpool of failures in modern T20 cricket.
At the time of his appointment, the team was going through a tough and challenging phase. However, the team’s trust in Salman began to pay off. Pakistan went on to win their second trophy in three subsequent series under Salman Ali Agha’s captaincy.
However, it would not be wrong to say that Salman Ali Agha’s real examination as a captain will be leading in the longest format of the game. Salman Ali Agha remains the prime contender to replace Shan Masood as Pakistan Test Captain.
2. Mohammad Rizwan
Rizwan took over as the captain of Pakistan’s white-ball teams in October 2024, replacing Babar Azam. However, managing only 9 wins in 20 games, he was sacked, with Shaheen Afridi further replacing him.
Also read: Mohammad Rizwan Refuses To Leave After Getting Out, Bangladesh Players Go Wild
While he is out of the T20I set-up, Rizwan remains a dependable wicketkeeper-batter in the longer formats. Moreover, as one of the senior-most players in the current set-up, Mohammad Rizwan brings a plethora of experience to the table and could be a possible candidate for Shan Masood's replacement as Pakistan Test Captain.
1. Babar Azam
Babar Azam has been considered the top choice for Pakistan's Test captaincy role. Safe to say, following a prolonged lean patch and severe criticism across all formats, Babar Azam has successfully orchestrated a major resurgence, roaring back to form in both domestic and international cricket.
It is worth noting that Babar has already led Pakistan across formats between 2019 and 2023 before stepping away after the team’s poor campaign in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Shan Masood was then appointed Pakistan’s Test captain as the Men in Green sought a new leadership phase.
Also read: Gautam Gambhir Takes Drastic Step Before Afghanistan Series As India's WTC Hopes Deter
