Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has advised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to limit Babar Azam’s media appearances during the national team’s upcoming three-match Test series in England.
Speaking on a talk show, Latif said touring England presents a unique challenge, as visiting teams often come under intense scrutiny from the local press.
He said an England tour is a tough assignment because the English media often tries to unnecessarily involve visiting teams in news stories.
Latif Suggests Shan Masood Take on Media Duties
Latif said Babar Azam, who will captain Pakistan in the series, could draw particular attention from the English press, and suggested the team management lean on other experienced players to handle media interactions instead.
He argued it would be better for the PCB to keep Babar away from the English media and have former captain Shan Masood speak to reporters more frequently, pointing to Masood’s prior experience playing in England as an advantage in dealing with the local press.
Latif also named Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Abbas as other players who could take on media duties during the tour. Latif himself toured England with Pakistan in 1992, 1996, and 2001 during his playing career.
Pakistan’s First Test Tour of England Since 2020
Pakistan have already arrived in England ahead of the series, which marks their first Test assignment in the country since 2020 and forms part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.
The opening Test will be played at Headingley in Leeds from August 19 to 23, followed by the second Test at Lord’s from August 27 to 31. The third and final Test is scheduled at Edgbaston in Birmingham from September 9 to 13.
Building on Momentum From the West Indies Series
Pakistan enter the series having drawn their two-match Test series against the West Indies 1-1, a series that included their first away Test win since July 2023 — a result that has given the team a confidence boost heading into the England tour.
As part of their preparations, Pakistan will also play a four-day warm-up match against a Select XI from August 12 to 15.
