Sarfaraz Ahmed Likely to Retain Test Coaching Role as PCB Weighs Shan Masood’s Captaincy Future

LAHORE: While a 49-player national training camp for two different formats is underway in Lahore, reports suggest that former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is set to continue as head coach of the Test team during the upcoming tours of the West Indies and England.

The 39-year-old former wicketkeeper-batsman, who represented Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 One-Day Internationals, and 61 T20 Internationals, was promoted from the Pakistan Under-19 setup to lead the national Test side during the recent two-match Test series against Bangladesh.

Pakistan, however, suffered defeats in both Tests played in Mirpur and Sylhet, leading to speculation that Sarfaraz Ahmed’s tenure as Test head coach could be cut short and that former Test captain Younis Khan might replace him.

Despite those rumors, Sarfaraz, who is currently overseeing a group of 22 red-ball cricketers in Lahore, has reportedly received backing from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the upcoming tours of the West Indies and England. Nevertheless, the results of those tours are expected to play a significant role in determining his long-term future.

Meanwhile, the future of Test captain Shan Masood remains uncertain despite his place in the national team appearing secure.

The left-handed batter, who has scored 2,653 runs in 46 Test matches for Pakistan, recently met with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi in Lahore. However, no final decision has been made regarding his captaincy.

Under Shan Masood’s leadership, Pakistan has lost 12 of its last 16 Test matches, raising concerns about the team’s overall performance. However, his individual batting record as captain has been impressive, with 1,065 runs in 16 Tests, including two centuries and ten half-centuries.

T20I captain Salman Ali Agha is considered a strong contender to take over the Test captaincy. Although he has the support of influential members within the selection committee, he has yet to play a Test match in England.

By contrast, Shan Masood brings valuable experience of English conditions, having played five Tests in England during the 2016 and 2020 tours. He has also captained English county sides Yorkshire and Derbyshire, experience that could prove beneficial both on and off the field.

His familiarity with English cricket and ability to handle the demanding English media environment are viewed as significant advantages ahead of what is expected to be a challenging tour.

These factors are reportedly being carefully considered by the PCB think tank. While Salman Ali Agha remains a strong candidate, sending the team into a difficult England tour without Shan Masood as captain could present a significant challenge. Discussions are therefore ongoing regarding whether to retain Shan Masood as Test captain or appoint a new leader before the upcoming assignments.