Pakistan cricket shake-up PCB meeting looms at Gaddafi Stadium as Shan Masood faces the end of his Test captaincy and multiple structural changes take shape

Pakistan cricket is heading for another major overhaul. The PCB plans sweeping changes to the national team setup following a damaging Test series whitewash against Bangladesh. The Pakistan cricket shake-up PCB meeting takes place at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday, where Chairman Mohsin Naqvi will receive a detailed briefing from team management. Moreover, Test captain Shan Masood, the coaching staff, and High-Performance Director Aaqib Javed will all attend.

Shan Masood’s time as Test captain appears to be ending. Reports point to T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha as the frontrunner to replace him. Furthermore, former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez is in the running for the role of director of international cricket. Therefore, two of the most significant positions in Pakistan’s cricket structure could change hands at once.

Salman Ali Agha’s leadership record offers some basis for confidence. He led Pakistan in 46 matches, winning 27 and losing 17. However, his all-round performances at the highest level have disappointed. Furthermore, adding Test captaincy to his T20I role raises real questions about whether the extra burden will help or hurt his development as a player.

The PCB’s administrative picture is equally troubled. The director of international cricket post sits vacant since Usman Wahla’s departure months ago. Furthermore, the board has not even advertised the role yet. The domestic cricket department also lacks a permanent director. Therefore, Pakistan’s cricket structure carries significant leadership gaps at multiple levels simultaneously.

Aaqib Javed’s position also faces serious scrutiny. He took on multiple roles over two years — selector, occasional head coach, and NCA director. Still, Pakistan’s performances throughout that period fell well short of expectations. Furthermore, the Champions Trophy 2025 and T20 World Cup 2026 both ended in disappointment. Therefore, accountability must extend beyond captaincy alone.

Mohsin Naqvi reshuffled captains, selectors, and coaches repeatedly since taking charge in February 2024. Results, however, never followed. Finally, the question Pakistan cricket fans keep asking is no longer who will go next — it is whether anyone at the PCB has a genuine plan to actually fix the problem.