Leeds: Pakistan have been urged to limit Babar Azam‘s interaction with the English media during the upcoming Test tour, with former captain Rashid Latif suggesting that Shan Masood should instead handle more of the team’s media commitments.
Babar has recently returned as Pakistan’s Test captain and is set to lead the side in a three-match series against England. The opening Test will be played at Headingley in Leeds from August 19 to 23, with the remaining matches scheduled to follow.
Latif believes an England tour can present challenges beyond what happens on the cricket field and feels Pakistan’s management should protect its senior players from unnecessary media attention.
Speaking on Geo News’ ScoreLatif said Babar is an experienced player but argued that Shan Masood’s previous experience of playing cricket in England makes him better suited to dealing with the local media.
Rashid Latif makes unusual request
Latif’s comments come as Pakistan prepare for a demanding Test series against England.
“An England tour is a difficult assignment, and the English media often tries to unnecessarily involve visiting teams in news stories,” Latif said.
He suggested that Pakistan Cricket Board management should reduce Babar’s exposure to the English media and allow Shan Masood to take on a greater role during media interactions.
“Babar Azam is an experienced player, so it would be better for the PCB management to keep him away from the English media and send former captain Shan Masood to speak to them more often,” Latif said.
According to the former wicketkeeper-batter, Masood’s experience of playing in England means he is better prepared to handle questions and scrutiny from the country’s media.
“Shan has played in England and has better experience of dealing with the English media,” Latif added.
The recommendation comes at a time when Babar’s return to leadership has once again placed him at the centre of attention surrounding Pakistan cricket.
Babar returns as Test captain
Babar previously served as Pakistan’s captain across all three formats before stepping down from leadership roles.
His earlier tenure included several notable achievements, particularly in T20 internationals. Under Babar, Pakistan reached the semi-finals of the 2021 T20 World Cup and went on to finish runners-up at the 2022 edition.
He also recorded one of Pakistan’s stronger winning percentages among T20I captains during his previous tenure.
His latest appointment as Test captain comes after Pakistan’s leadership structure underwent significant changes following a series of disappointing results.
Babar has been appointed to lead the Test side for the tours of the West Indies and England. However, his tenure is not currently guaranteed to extend beyond those assignments.
The situation has fuelled speculation that Pakistan could eventually move towards an all-format captain once the current leadership arrangements are reviewed.
Babar could return as all-format captain
Reports have suggested that the Pakistan Cricket Board is considering handing Babar the ODI captaincy as well.
According to a report by Telecom Asia Sport, the PCB has promised Babar the captaincy across all formats. After restoring him as Test captain, the board is reportedly considering making him the leader of the ODI side.
The possibility has raised questions over the future of current ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Shaheen was asked whether white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and selector Aqib Javed supported him continuing as ODI captain. Rather than offering a detailed response, the left-arm fast bowler gave a wry smile before saying: “Till now I am the captain.”
His comments have added to speculation surrounding Pakistan’s ODI leadership.
Shaheen’s ODI future remains uncertain
Shaheen was appointed Pakistan’s ODI captain in October last year without a fixed tenure. He replaced Mohammad Rizwan after Pakistan endured a difficult period in white-ball cricket.
Pakistan’s campaign under Rizwan ended with an early exit from the Champions Trophy, followed by a series defeat against the West Indies. The latter was particularly significant as Pakistan lost an ODI series against the West Indies for the first time in 24 years.
Shaheen subsequently took charge of the ODI team, but reports of another leadership change have now placed his position under scrutiny.
Despite the uncertainty, Shaheen has an impressive record as a leader at domestic franchise level. He has guided Lahore Qalandars to three Pakistan Super League titles over the last five years.
The expectation is that Shaheen could remain ODI captain until the 2027 ODI World Cup in Africa. However, Pakistan’s frequent changes in leadership mean there is little certainty about any long-term arrangement.
England tour could influence Pakistan’s plans
The upcoming Test series against England could therefore have implications beyond the immediate results.
Reports have claimed that Babar accepted the Test captaincy with an understanding that he could eventually become Pakistan’s all-format captain. Sources cited in those reports suggested that two selectors had assured Babar that strong performances in the two Tests in the West Indies and the three-Test series in England could strengthen his case for taking charge across formats.
However, neither the reported agreement nor the future captaincy arrangement has been officially established.
For Babar, the England series will therefore represent an opportunity to demonstrate his leadership qualities in one of the most demanding Test environments.
The first Test at Headingley will be particularly important. England’s home conditions can challenge visiting batters, while the hosts’ aggressive approach under their current leadership setup can place considerable pressure on opposition teams.
Babar’s performance, both as a batter and captain, is likely to attract significant attention regardless of how much media exposure Pakistan’s management allows him.
Why Shan Masood could be Pakistan’s media voice
Latif’s suggestion that Shan should take on more media duties is based partly on familiarity.
Masood has spent considerable time playing in England and has experience with English conditions and the country’s cricketing environment. His communication skills and familiarity with the local media could make him a useful spokesperson for Pakistan during the tour.
For a touring team, managing media commitments can be an important part of maintaining focus. Captains are naturally expected to answer questions about tactics, selection and performances, but limiting unnecessary distractions can also help players concentrate on cricket.
Latif’s comments appear to be based on that broader concern rather than criticism of Babar’s ability to deal with the media.
Pakistan’s leadership puzzle continues
The latest developments highlight the uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s captaincy structure.
Babar has returned as Test captain, while Shaheen remains the ODI skipper for now. Meanwhile, reports suggest the PCB could eventually hand Babar responsibility across all formats.
At the same time, Babar’s Test appointment has not been described as a long-term arrangement, with his current mandate reportedly covering the West Indies and England tours.
That leaves Pakistan with several unresolved leadership questions heading into an important period.
The team will also need to balance the demands of its upcoming Test campaign with preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Frequent changes in leadership can make that process more complicated, particularly when the team is trying to establish a settled core.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s England tour is already generating plenty of discussion before the first ball is bowled. Rashid Latif’s unusual recommendation that Babar Azam be shielded from excessive English media attention has added another talking point to the preparations.
Latif believes Shan Masood’s experience of playing in England makes him better suited to handling media interactions during the tour. Meanwhile, Babar’s return as Test captain has fuelled further speculation about Pakistan’s wider leadership structure.
With reports suggesting that Babar could eventually become the all-format captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi’s ODI position remains uncertain despite his insistence that he is still the captain.
Ultimately, Babar’s performances and Pakistan’s results in England are likely to have the greatest influence on what happens next. The three-Test series could prove an important step in determining both Pakistan’s immediate fortunes and its future leadership plans.