This decision has come at a time when continuity, results and leadership in Pakistan Test cricket have been under criticism on all three fronts.

The question is, why did Babar Azam return? Is this just a change of captaincy or is Pakistan cricket trying to take a new direction?

Why was Babar Azam made captain again?

Selection committee member Aqib Javed clarified in a press conference that the decision was not made on the basis of a single match or a series, but by looking at the overall performance.

He said that the captain also has a responsibility. Shan Masood s personal performance was good, but under his leadership the team could not achieve the results that were expected.

That is, the selectors are of the opinion that the success of a captain is not measured only by his batting or bowling, but also by the team s results.

Was Shan Masood s performance as a captain weak?

Shan Masood played responsible innings on many occasions as a batter, but as a captain, Pakistan could not get the successes that were expected.

In the last few Test series, Pakistan was facing questions over defeats, inconsistent performance and team combination. In this context, the selection committee decided to change the leadership.

What is the real message of the selectors?

Aqib Javed said another important thing that no board would want the captain to be for just one series. We want whoever gets the opportunity to lead the team for two to three years.

This statement indicates that if the results continue to be good under Babar Azam s leadership, the PCB can retain him as the Test captain for a long time.

Why Babar Azam?

Pakistan has a limited number of experienced players who have proven themselves by playing consistently in all three formats.

According to former captain Misbah-ul-Haq, Babar Azam is an important player in all three formats, it is important to give him confidence, his ability is not limited to any one format.

Misbah also said that although questions were raised about Babar s T20 strike rate in the past, he proved with his performance in the PSL that he can play an important role in all formats.

What other changes have been made in the team?

The PCB has announced a 16-member squad for the tour of the West Indies and England. Important names include Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Abbas, Sajid Khan, Khurram Shahzad and Obaid Shah, while Saud Shakeel could not be part of the squad due to fitness issues.

Why were Shaheen and Naseem not included?

In the press conference, Aqib Javed also clarified this. He said that Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah need to play first-class cricket. The recent performance of both in red-ball cricket has not been up to expectations. Their speed is also a cause of concern for the selection committee.

This statement shows that the PCB is now following a policy of looking at red-ball and white-ball cricket separately.

How important is the tour?

The Pakistan team will start its foreign tour with the West Indies. According to the schedule, there will be a warm-up match on July 18, the first Test will be played in the West Indies from July 25 to 29.

After this, the team will also play important Test matches against England, where Babar Azam’s ability as a captain will be tested for the first time.

Is this just a change of captaincy?

It seems that this is just a change of captain, but in fact it is a decision related to the future of Pakistan cricket.

If Babar Azam continues to deliver success to the team, then the PCB’s long-term leadership strategy will be considered successful. But if the results do not improve, then questions may once again be raised about leadership, selection and team management.

Pakistan cricket is currently at a stage where just changing the captain is not enough, but the team needs consistency, strong planning and better results.

Babar Azam’s return is being considered the beginning of this new effort, but the real decision of the success of this decision will be decided by the performance on the field.