Tag: Shan Masood

MIRPUR: Pakistan captain Shan Masood admitted his side failed to capitalize on key moments after a painful defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.

Bangladesh sealed a commanding 104-run win over Pakistan on the final day of the Test match, largely due to Nahid Rana’s five-wicket haul. The speedster rattled Pakistan’s batting lineup in defense of 268, handing the home side a victory.

Speaking after the match, Shan lamented the outcome, noting that Pakistan could have pushed for a draw with two set batters at the crease.

“For us, it’s disappointing. I thought we were in the game with two set batters, and they could have batted longer to take the game towards a draw,” he said.

The skipper praised debutants Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal, with the former scoring a century on debut while the latter registered half-centuries in both innings.

“It’s always a silver lining to look at the bright side and see what went well in this game, and those two  [Azan, Abdullah] were exceptional. I thought about how they played in the first innings, particularly Azan was outstanding,” he added.

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Shan urged consistency from both batters, saying both batters will improve further with more Test cricket under their belts.

“When we picked them, we picked them seeing potential that they can play at this level. Their maturity was great. For them, the thing is can they be consistent in Test cricket? I think they have the potential to do that. When you get opportunities to stamp your authority we have to do that,” Shan explained.

“Abdullah did not know that he was playing till very late that night, before the Test match. Still, to go out there, play with maturity, be positive, and also be mindful of the situation. Once they start playing more Test cricket, they will be more better at decision making.”

Regarding the decision to bowl first, Shan said Pakistan made good use of the pristine bowling conditions but failed to capitalize afterward.

“We looked at the conditions and in terms of seam bowling we had the best conditions. We got two early wickets. But in the first innings we didn’t capitalise on that and then we didn’t capitalise with the bat either. We could have pushed for more runs. But in the first innings, with bat and ball, we needed to do better,” he said.

“You can never question the effort, especially when you are playing Test cricket after six months. Test cricket on surfaces like this teaches you that when you have the game in your hands you have to push the opposition away, but we failed to do that,” Shan concluded.

READ: Pakistan set unwanted Test record after defeat to Bangladesh

MIRPUR: Pakistan captain Shan Masood has dismissed any talk of revenge ahead of the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, set to begin tomorrow. 

Speaking to the media on the eve of the first Test, Masood dismissed any talk of revenge and instead credited the home side for their victory in the previous series.

“I do not think our side associates itself with any word related to revenge. We must give credit to Bangladesh for the way they prepared and performed in 2024. We thought we would have the better of them in those conditions, but they played really good cricket,” he told reporters.

“The way they fought back from situations where we were on top, like when they were 26 for six, showed their skill and ability. We are not going to take any opposition lightly,” he added.

The skipper emphasized that the Pakistan all-round squad can adjust to any conditions.

“They have their own strengths, and we have our own strengths. We can only judge ourselves from our own point of view. I think we have brought a very well-rounded squad of 16 players that can play in most conditions,” he explained.

“We are very happy with the squad we have, and now it is about playing 10 days of good cricket. Hopefully, whoever plays better cricket will end up winning the series,” Shan Masood continued.

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He also recalled the last series, highlighting Bangladesh’s performance, saying that the hosts’ squad remains largely unchanged.

“I have been involved in two previous series against Bangladesh, and this side is very similar to the one we faced before, very competitive and skillful. They are covered in all departments, whether batting, pace bowling or spin bowling.”

“We enjoy challenges, and we like playing teams that are strong in their own conditions. This is an opportunity for us to test our skills and hopefully come out on top,” the 36-year-old said.

Masood also mentioned the surface at the Shere-Bangla National Stadium pitch, while expressing confidence in his based on their recent tours.

“The pitch currently has grass on it, and that will likely be its condition tomorrow. We have played in various conditions over the last two years, including Australia and South Africa. Even when Bangladesh came to Pakistan, we prepared similar wickets. We built our 16-man squad to be balanced, with options for both seam and spin conditions,” he observed.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to continue with Shan Masood as the captain of the Test side, while former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed is likely to be appointed as the red-ball head coach, according to reliable sources.

An official confirmation regarding both decisions is expected once the schedule for Pakistan’s upcoming Test tour of Bangladesh is finalised.

Sources suggest that the two-match series is tentatively slated to begin on May 8 and May 16, although venues are yet to be confirmed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

If appointed, Sarfaraz Ahmed will take charge of the Test side for the first time, replacing Azhar Mahmood, who had served as interim head coach.

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The role has remained vacant since Azhar’s departure in October 2025, despite his contract initially running until March 2026.

Sarfaraz is expected to continue his responsibilities as a national selector alongside the coaching role.

Meanwhile, the decision to persist with Shan Masood as red-ball captain reflects the board’s emphasis on stability within the longest format.

The left-handed batter was handed the Test leadership in November 2023 and is set to remain at the helm as Pakistan navigate the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle.

Pakistan are expected to play three Test series in the current cycle, against Bangladesh, the West Indies and England, as they look to build consistency in red-ball cricket.

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly reevaluating its offer to men’s Test captain Shan Masood for the position of Consultant International Cricket and Players’ Affairs, with insiders citing his packed playing schedule as a key factor.

The 36-year-old batter was verbally offered the role in October, a move confirmed at the time through a brief press release and a social media post.

While the social media post remains online, the press release has since been removed, fueling speculation about the board’s reconsideration.

The PCB has appointed Shan Masood as Consultant International Cricket and Players’ Affairs.

Read more ➡️ https://t.co/dtNYF1thQl pic.twitter.com/ttyWtSOBUV

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 24, 2025

Sources indicate that Masood’s ongoing commitments as Pakistan’s Test captain are making it increasingly difficult for him to manage dual responsibilities.

The PCB is believed to be weighing the practicality of having Masood simultaneously lead the Test side and assume a high-level administrative role.

The consultancy position was advertised by the PCB following the resignation of Usman Wahla from the Director of International Cricket Operations role.

While the exact duties assigned to Shan Masood were not publicly specified, the advertised responsibilities for the role include planning and organising international cricket events.

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The role also included preparing MOUs for home and overseas tours across all national and age-group teams, developing tournament budgets and logistics, and overseeing ICC meetings, negotiations, and FTP tour itineraries.

Shan Masood, who made his international debut against South Africa in 2013, has represented Pakistan in 44 Tests, nine ODIs, and 19 T20Is.

He has also captained the Test side in 14 matches, winning four and losing ten, with his most recent stint ending in a 1-1 draw against South Africa.

READ: Winless Pakistan thrashed by Argentina in FIH Pro League clash

Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, Test captain Shan Masood, and veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik are among the 42 Pakistan cricketers registered for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2026 auction.

The BPL players’ auction is set for November 30, with 245 overseas players already categorised for the event.

Meanwhile, the tournament is scheduled to be played from 26 December 2025 and will conclude on 23 January 2026.

The BPL 2026 will see a reduction in teams from seven to five. Dhaka Capitals and Rangpur Riders remain, while Chattogram Royals, Rajshahi Warriors, and Sylhet Titans enter under new ownership after Chittagong Kings, Durbar Rajshahi, and Sylhet Strikers exited.

Defending champions Fortune Barishal and Khulna Tigers will not participate this season.

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The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed the participating teams but has yet to release details regarding the new ownership structures.

The auction will feature 245 overseas players across five categories, A, B, C, D, and E, from which franchises will select talent for the season.

Ahead of the auction, several players have already been directly signed by franchises.

Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed joins the newly rebranded Chattogram Royals, while opening batter Saim Ayub has been secured by Sylhet Titans, alongside Moeen Ali, Mohammad Amir, and Azmatullah Omarzai.

International stars have also been pre-signed, including England’s Alex Hales and Pakistan’s Usman Khan by Dhaka Capitals, and Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis by Noakhali Express.

Pakistan players registered for BPL 2026 auction

Category A

• Abdul Samad – Batter
• Zaman Khan – Bowler
• Mohammad Hasnain – Bowler
• Usama Mir – Bowler
• Shoaib Malik – Allrounder
• Shan Masood – Batter
• Salman Ali Agha – Allrounder
• Mohammad Wasim – Allrounder
• Mohammad Haris – Wicketkeeper
• Aamer Jamal – Allrounder

Category B

• Asif Ali – Batter
• Salman Mirza – Bowler
• Saud Shakeel – Batter

Category C

• Ali Raza – Bowler
• Jahandad Khan – Allrounder
• Haider Ali – Batter
• Khurram Shahzad – Bowler
• Abdullah Shafique – Batter
• Zafar Gohar – Allrounder
• Bilawal Bhatti – Allrounder

Category D

• Mehran Mumtaz – Allrounder
• Usman Qadir – Bowler
• Mir Hamza – Bowler
• Muhammad Ali Dazy – Bowler
• Irfan Khan Niazi – Batter
• Arif Yaqoob – Bowler
• Ahmed Daniyal – Allrounder

Category E

• Asad Raza – Bowler
• Tayyab Abbas – Bowler
• Ammad Butt – Allrounder
• Ammad Alam – Batter
• Yasir Khan – Batter
• Muhammad Akhlaq – Wicketkeeper
• Mohammad Zeeshan – Bowler
• Mohammad Imran Jr – Bowler
• Zia ul Hasan – Allrounder
• Mamoon Imtiaz – Bowler
• Rumman Raees – Bowler
• Saad Baig – Wicketkeeper
• Arafat Minhas – Allrounder
• Tayyab Tahir – Batter
• Salman Fayyaz – Bowler

READ: Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub among pre-auction picks for BPL 2026

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has congratulated Shan Masood on his appointment as PCB’s Consultant for International Cricket and Players’ Affairs, calling it a great choice and praising the board for making “thoughtful and forward-looking” decisions.

The all-rounder took to social media and shared his views on the decision.

Congratulations to Shaan Masood on being appointed as the International Director of PCB, a great choice,” he wrote on X.

He suggested that wicket-keeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed should be a strong candidate to lead domestic cricket, praising the decision.

“I recommend, Sarfaraz Ahmed would be an excellent fit to lead domestic cricket. Only cricketers truly understand the challenges and needs of their fellow players, these roles couldn’t be in better hands. Great to see PCB making thoughtful and forward-looking decisions for Pakistan cricket,” he wrote.

Earlier today, PCB named Test skipper Shan Masood as the Consultant for International Cricket and Players’ Affairs.

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However, the PCB announcement press release did not indicate if Shan would remain as captain while taking on the new role.

The decision came after the board had advertised for the Director of International Cricket Operations following Usman Wahla’s resignation from the role.

The designation is newly created and encompasses the responsibilities previously advertised under the Director, International Cricket Operations role.

As per the PCB’s advertisement, the director’s role involves numerous responsibilities, including planning and organizing international cricket events and preparing and finalizing MOUs for home and overseas tours of Pakistan’s national, Shaheens, U-19, U-16, and emerging teams.

“The role also involves preparing for ICC meetings on cricket-related matters and developing logistics and tournament budgets. The director will oversee negotiations, contract execution, and itinerary planning for FTP tours and all formats of matches,” the advertisement read.

Till now, Shan Masood has played 44 Tests, 9 ODIs, and 19 T20Is for Pakistan, having made his international debut against South Africa in 2013.

Overall, he has captained Pakistan in 14 matches so far, winning only four and losing 10. His most recent stint as skipper came against South Africa, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced Test skipper Shan Masood as the Consultant for International Cricket and Players’ Affairs.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi made the announcement during a dinner at the Prime Minister’s house.

The decision came after the board had advertised for the Director of International Cricket Operations following Usman Wahla’s stepping down from the role.

Usman Wahla was appointed as the Director in May 2023 after Zakir Khan, whose contract expired on April 3, 2023.

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As per the PCB’s advertisement, the director’s role involves numerous responsibilities, including planning and organizing international cricket events and preparing and finalizing MOUs for home and overseas tours of Pakistan’s national, Shaheens, U-19, U-16, and emerging teams.

“The role also involves preparing for ICC meetings on cricket-related matters and developing logistics and tournament budgets. The director will oversee negotiations, contract execution, and itinerary planning for FTP tours and all formats of matches,” the advertisement read.

Till now, Shan Masood has played 44 Tests, 9 ODIs, and 19 T20Is for Pakistan, having made his international debut against South Africa in 2013.

Overall, he has captained Pakistan in 14 matches so far, winning only four and losing 10. His most recent stint as skipper came against South Africa, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

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RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has accepted his team’s shortcomings following the eight-wicket defeat to South Africa in the second Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Speaking after the match, Masood praised South Africa’s resilience while acknowledging Pakistan’s failure to seize key moments that could have sealed the series.

“Hindsight is always there, but credit must go to the opposition; they kept fighting till the end,” said Masood. “If someone had told us after the first two days that we’d be in this position, we would’ve taken it.”

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

Pakistan appeared well-placed after taking a 98-run lead in the first innings, but a record-breaking last-wicket stand between Senuran Muthusamy and Kagiso Rabada turned the contest on its head.

Shan Masood admitted that the momentum shift in that short phase proved decisive.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t finish well with the ball, and that last-wicket stand really hurt us,” he said.

“We were 98 runs ahead with just two wickets to take, but we let the game slip in a costly 30-minute phase where we missed our chances.”

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Despite the defeat, Masood remained optimistic about Pakistan’s overall performance in the ongoing Test season, highlighting the team’s recent consistency in challenging conditions.

“Still, with four wins out of six on these kinds of wickets, that’s not a bad record, especially considering how close we came in the two losses,” he reflected.

“As a team, you’re never perfect, but four out of six is definitely something to build on.”

READ: Pakistan Shaheens to play white-ball series with England Lions

RAWALPINDI: Shan Masood’s composed knock and Abdullah Shafique’s hard-fought fifty laid a solid platform for Pakistan, but South Africa clawed back with late strikes to leave the opening day of the second Test finely balanced.

At the end of day one here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan were 259-5. Saud Shakeel remained unbeaten on 42 from 105 balls while Salman Ali Agha scored 10* from 25 deliveries.

The home side continued their innings from 177-3 after the tea break, with skipper Shan Masood adding 35 more runs with Saud Shakeel.

The scorecard read 212 when the visitors got a vital breakthrough in the form of Masood. The southpaw made 87 from 176 balls, striking three sixes and two fours.

With the wicket of the set batter in the dying hours of the day, South Africa sensed an opening as Mohammad Rizwan arrived at the crease. He added another 34 runs with Shakeel before getting caught for 19 from 39 deliveries.

Consequenlty, Pakistan were reduced to 245-6 with still few overs to play. However, Salman Ali Agha and Shakeel added 13* more and survived the day to set up an intriguing second day’s play.

For South Africa, Simon Harmer and returning Keshav Maharaj were pick of the bowlers, scalping two apiece, whereas Kagiso Rabada had one to his name in the wickets column.

At tea break, Pakistan made 177-3 with skipper Shan Masood standing firm on 77 off 144 balls alongside Saud Shakeel, who was unbeaten on 6, steering Pakistan to a steady position after a productive afternoon session.

Resuming at 95-1 after lunch, Masood and Abdullah Shafique extended their second-wicket partnership, adding 111 valuable runs to keep the Proteas at bay.

Both batters brought up well-crafted fifties, Masood his 13th in Test cricket and Shafique his sixth, as the pair looked set for a big stand before South Africa found a way back.

Off-spinner Simon Harmer, who had struck earlier in the morning session, broke through once again, dismissing Shafique for 57 off 146 deliveries.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

The dismissal ended what had been a resilient partnership that formed the backbone of Pakistan’s innings.

Soon after, Keshav Maharaj joined the act, removing Babar Azam for 16 off 22 balls, leaving the hosts at 167-3 in 56 overs.

Despite the quick wickets, Masood held his composure, mixing solid defence with timely aggression to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Earlier, Pakistan had opted to bat first after winning the toss. Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique started confidently, negotiating the new ball well before Harmer provided the breakthrough by bowling Imam for 17 off 35 balls.

Masood’s arrival immediately shifted momentum back in Pakistan’s favour as the left-hander took the attack to South Africa’s spinners, striking three sixes and a boundary before lunch.

He and Shafique ensured Pakistan headed into the first break comfortably placed at 95-1.

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Pakistan entered the match with one change from the opening Test, handing a long-awaited Test debut to 38-year-old left-arm spinner Asif Afridi, who replaced Hasan Ali.

South Africa, meanwhile, welcomed back Keshav Maharaj from injury, while Marco Jansen also returned, replacing Wiaan Mulder and Prenelan Subrayen.

It’s worth noting that Pakistan began their ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign in style last week, defeating defending champions South Africa by 93 runs in Karachi to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

READ: Marnus Labuschagne reveals reason behind continued batting struggles

LAHORE: Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood praised his side’s resilience and collective effort after they defeated World Test Champions South Africa by 93 runs in the first Test at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

The win handed Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, marking a strong statement against one of the toughest red-ball sides in world cricket.

Reflecting on the hard-fought contest, Shan acknowledged South Africa’s fightback and credited his players for maintaining composure under pressure.

“There were a lot of challenges out in the middle. Credit to South Africa, they kept coming back, but we built enough margins to have the upper hand, and I’m glad we finished it off,” Shan said during the post-match presentation.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

The skipper also touched upon Pakistan’s tactical approach on turning surfaces, emphasising the balance between spin and pace that proved decisive in Lahore.

“Historically, we have always played on such surfaces. Even when we’ve gone spin-heavy, we included a seamer or two because we want reverse swing to come into play,” he said.

“Test cricket is a collective effort. Sajid was unlucky with his injury, and Noman is Noman,” he remarked, applauding the left-arm spinner’s stellar display.

Noman Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi were Pakistan’s heroes in the second innings, sharing eight wickets to bowl South Africa out for 183.

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Concluding his remarks, Shan Masood hailed the victory as a significant milestone for the side.

“There are a lot of positives to draw from this game. It’s a great opportunity to play against the team that won the WTC, and we closed it out with a win today. Now, we look forward to the next one,” he said.

Pakistan will now head to Rawalpindi, where the second and final Test of the series will be played from October 20 to 24.

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