India, July 5 -- Pakistan's latest Test captaincy reset has come with a blunt message from the selection committee: Shan Masood may have survived as a batter, but his results as captain did not.

Babar Azam has been brought back as Pakistan's Test captain for the tours of the West Indies and England, marking the beginning of his second stint in charge after the PCB moved away from Masood. The decision comes after a difficult leadership run for Masood, whose tenure began with a 3-0 defeat in Australia and never properly found stability despite one memorable home series win over England.

Masood has kept his place in Pakistan's squad, but the armband has gone back to Babar, the man Pakistan had turned away from after the 2023 World Cup cycl...