But Masood’s sudden elevation as vice-captain has been read by some as a challenge to both him and Babar’s captaincy, and is believed to have caused unrest and resentment among the core of the national side, most of whom are loyal to Babar. On the eve of the the ODI series against New Zealand, Babar had sought to play down the vice-captaincy, saying the appointment doesn’t mean Masood would automatically make the XI, and sure enough, Masood hasn’t played the first two games. But, ESPNcricinfo understands Sethi has taken a direct interest in Shan’s inclusion in the XI, though Pakistan’s top four is fairly established currently.
Masood’s appointment is an illustration of how this administration intends to shake up that status quo. Babar has the command of his team and he remains a high-performing batter, but the recently concluded Test home season – where Pakistan lost three of five Tests and won none – has cranked up scrutiny of his leadership. That this shake-up is happening in the one format which this side seems especially suited to and settled in – the 50-overs game – is ironic. And though questions have been raised about his captaincy in T20Is, Babar has just led Pakistan to the semi-final and final of two successive T20 World Cups, as well as the final of the Asia Cup.
Sethi, however, is keen on having Arthur on side, advising him on cricket affairs. The suggestion to elevate Masood is understood to have come from an informal discussion between Sethi and Arthur, for example. Masood had a stint last summer with Derbyshire, under Arthur. He scored 1832 runs in all competitions but wasn’t able to transfer his form into Pakistan’s home season. Across six Test innings he averaged 20.33, with a highest score of 35.
Last month, PCB patron-in-chief and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif removed Ramiz and his board and replaced them with a 14-member management committee, led by Sethi. The committee has 120 days to change the PCB’s constitution, bringing back the 2014 version that was replaced in 2019.