Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Latif urges PCB to shield Babar Azam from English media
Babar Azam is the captain of Pakistan's cricket team.
His team is going to England to play three big Test matches.
A former player named Rashid Latif has a suggestion for the team.
He thinks Babar should not talk to reporters in England.
He says the English media might write unkind stories that put pressure on Babar.
Instead, he wants another player, Shan Masood, to talk to the reporters.
Shan speaks English very well and has played in England before.
Pakistan's team has been struggling lately, losing more matches than they have won.
The matches will be played in Leeds, London and Birmingham.
Pakistan has not won a Test series in England since the 1990s.
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif urged the PCB to keep Test skipper Babar Azam away from the English media during the tour.
Latif suggested Shan Masood, the squad's most fluent English speaker, handle media briefings instead.
He said the English media often tries to involve visiting teams in news stories, which could put Babar under undue pressure.
The three-match Test series against England begins August 19, with matches in Leeds, London and Birmingham.
Pakistan sits bottom, in ninth place, in the World Test Championship with two wins and four losses in six Tests.
- Who
- Rashid Latif, former Pakistan captain, made the suggestion; Babar Azam is Pakistan's Test captain and Shan Masood is the player proposed to face the media.
- What
- Latif urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to keep Babar Azam away from the English media and have Shan Masood handle press conferences during the England Test tour.
- When
- Ahead of the three-match Test series against England starting August 19.
- Where
- England, with Tests scheduled in Leeds, London and Birmingham; Latif's comments aired on Geo News' programme 'Score'.
- Why
- Latif fears the British media will create controversial headlines that could put Babar under undue pressure, and believes Masood has better experience dealing with the English media.
- Suggestion made by
- Rashid Latif, former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper
- Pakistan Test captain
- Babar Azam
- Suggested media spokesperson
- Shan Masood
- Opposition
- England (three-match Test series)
- Series start
- August 19
- Venues
- Leeds, London, Birmingham
- Pakistan WTC record
- Ninth place; 2 wins, 4 losses in 6 Tests
- Last Pakistan Test series win in UK
- 1996 (2-0)