Pakistan’s Test captain, Shan Masood, is reportedly on the verge of losing his leadership role after a string of disappointing performances, with the latest blow being a crushing defeat in the Multan Test against England. Sources within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) suggest that the 34-year-old opener could be removed as captain following the conclusion of the ongoing three-match series.
Masood’s tenure as captain has been marred by a lack of home victories, with Pakistan failing to secure a single Test win under his leadership. The loss in the series opener to England added further pressure, as Pakistan became the first team in Test history to lose a match after scoring over 500 runs in the first innings.
In the first Test at Multan, Pakistan put up a commendable 506, anchored by Masood’s gritty 151. However, England’s response was a masterclass in batting as they declared at an astonishing 823/7, powered by Harry Brook’s 317 and Joe Root’s 262. Pakistan’s defeat came by an innings, extending their winless streak at home and compounding Masood’s challenges.
Speaking after the game, a disappointed Masood reflected on the loss, acknowledging England’s ability to seize opportunities. “It is disappointing to lose again. England found a way to win the match; they created their window of opportunity. The harsh reality is that quality sides in Test cricket find a way to win,” Masood said.
The skipper also addressed his team’s inability to adapt to the conditions in Multan, where the pitch behaved differently than expected. “We expected the pitch to break by the third day onwards, which is why we prolonged our innings. But at the end of the day, you have to find ways to take 20 wickets, and we are not doing that in recent times,” Masood explained.
While Pakistan’s batting showed promise, the team’s inability to bowl out England highlighted their ongoing struggles. Masood emphasized the importance of putting up a strong first-inning score to gain an advantage in the later stages of the match. “You have to put up a good first innings score so that you’re in the driving seat for the third and fourth innings and then find windows to take 20 wickets,” he added.
Despite Masood’s individual efforts with the bat, Pakistan’s repeated failures on the field and their inability to capitalize on key moments have raised questions about his leadership. The skipper himself admitted that the team was not learning from its mistakes and was repeating them in every series.
With the series still ongoing, speculation is growing that Masood could be replaced as captain after the final match. According to reports from Pakistan’s Samaa TV, potential candidates to take over the captaincy include middle-order batsman Saud Shakeel, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, and all-rounder Salman Ali Agha.
As Pakistan faces a critical period of reflection and renewal, the PCB is expected to make an announcement regarding the captaincy once the series concludes. This may mark the end of Masood’s tenure as Test leader, with Pakistan in search of fresh leadership to turn their fortunes around.
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