July 5 (Reuters) - Pakistan ⁠have removedShan Masood as test captain ⁠and reinstated Babar Azam ahead of ‌their upcoming test series against West Indies and England, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Sunday.

Masood, who ​succeeded Babar in November 2023, ⁠steps down after ⁠a difficult time in charge.

The left-hander captained ⁠Pakistan in ‌16 matches and lost 12 of them. Masood's spell at ⁠the helm came under increasing scrutiny after ​Pakistan ‌were whitewashed 2-0 by Bangladesh in May.

Pakistan ⁠will play ​a two-match test series against the West Indies from July 25 to August 6, ⁠followed by a three-match series ​in England from August 19 to September 13.

PAKISTAN SQUAD FOR WEST INDIES AND ENGLAND SERIES

Babar ⁠Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam ul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, ​Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad ⁠Ghazi Ghori, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, ​Shan Masood, Ubaid Shah, Saud ‌Shakeel (for England tour, subject ​to fitness clearance)

(Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru; Editing by Jamie Freed)