In a surprise shake-up, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed current Test captain Shan Masood as its Consultant for International Cricket and Player Affairs, a newly created position that could soon evolve into the senior post of Director International Cricket.
The appointment — rare even by PCB standards — has raised eyebrows across the cricket community, with the board declining to clarify whether Masood will continue as an active player and Test captain while performing his new administrative duties.
The PCB is currently recruiting for the permanent Director International Cricket role, with applications closing on November 2, and insiders suggest Masood could be filling the post on an interim basis until the selection process concludes. The previous director, Usman Wahla, was suspended in September 2025 after a short tenure that began in May 2023.
Masood’s new role was reportedly announced to players during a Prime Minister’s dinner held to honour the visiting South African team, just after Pakistan’s drawn Test series (1–1) against the Proteas.
While the PCB statement offered little clarity on the scope or duration of Masood’s appointment, it immediately sparked debate over potential conflicts of interest, given his dual position as both captain and administrator overseeing international cricket operations.
Masood, 35, has led Pakistan’s Test side for over two years, enduring a turbulent tenure marked by inconsistent results — ten losses and four wins — including a historic series defeat to Bangladesh, whitewashes in Australia and South Africa, and a solitary series win against England last winter. Despite this, his batting form has shown noticeable improvement since taking the captaincy.
Pakistan’s upcoming assignments include home series against Bangladesh and West Indies in 2026, followed by a high-profile three-Test tour of England in August.
Masood has not yet commented publicly on his new role, leaving both fans and analysts speculating whether this appointment marks the beginning of his transition from on-field leadership to cricket administration.
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