3 Worst captains in Pakistan's Test history

Pakistan’s performance in Test cricket has gone from bad to worse. They are currently languishing at the bottom of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle with just two wins from eight games. Interestingly, they began their campaign with a 93‑run win over South Africa but then lost four matches on the bounce before clinching their second victory, a series‑levelling result against West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain.

Pakistan have already conceded a 2–0 defeat in the ongoing three‑match Test series in England and will be playing for pride when the third Test begins at Edgbaston in Birmingham on September 9.

This is not the first time Pakistan have endured such a mortifying low in the red‑ball format. They have experienced several similar spells under different captains. Here is a look at three Pakistan players who hold the most underwhelming records as Test captains:

Intikhab Alam

Intikhab Alam led Pakistan in Tests from 1969 to 1975. Under his leadership, Pakistan played 17 Tests, winning just one, losing five and drawing an astonishing 11 matches. His only win as Test captain came against New Zealand by an innings and 166 runs in Dunedin in February 1973. His final Test as captain was against West Indies in Karachi in March 1975, which ended in a draw. His win percentage as Test captain stood at a mere 5.88%.

Shan Masood

Shan Masood also features on this unwanted list. The left‑hander led Pakistan in 16 Tests, registering only four wins. None of his matches ended in a draw, while Pakistan suffered 12 defeats under his captaincy. He finished with a win percentage of 25% and a 75% loss rate.

Sarfaraz Ahmed

Sarfaraz Ahmed also finds a place on this list, as he could not replicate his white‑ball success in the red‑ball format. He oversaw four Test wins, eight losses and one draw during his tenure as captain from 2017 to 2019. He finished with a win percentage of 30.76% and a 61.53% loss rate.