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Pakistan batter Babar Azam assumed the Test captaincy ahead of the tours of the West Indies and England. The move came after the underwhelming performances under Shan Masood, during which the side won a handful of games.

As per a report by Telecom Asia Sport, the 31-year-old had set a condition in front of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Babar wanted captaincy in all formats before accepting the Test leadership job.

The report stated that two selectors met the batter before he was formally announced as the new Test skipper on 5th of July. That’s when Azam laid down his condition because he wanted to be the sole captain of the national team in all formats.

Once the demand was made, the selectors assured that, depending on the results in the upcoming tours, the call to make him all-format captain will be taken. This may be bad news for Shaheen Afridithe ODI skipper, and Salman Aghawho is leading the T20I side.

First Test between Pakistan and West Indies takes a dramatic twist

West Indies took a 29-run lead in the first innings thanks to a fifer from Justin Greaves. The pacer ran through the opposition batting unit just when it looked like the visitors were set to take a lead. He bowled 11 overs and gave away 27 runs and took five wickets.

Former skipper Shan Masood was the top scorer with 109 runs from 184 balls with 12 hits to the fence. Imam-ul-Haq amassed a patient 63, which came off 102 balls with the help of seven boundaries, and the pair added 155 runs for the second wicket off 187 balls.

Muhammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad then picked five wickets amongst themselves to leave the Caribbeans at 93/7 at one stage. Kemar Roach and Shamar Joseph’s 33-run stand gave West Indies some respectability.