Tag: Shan Masood

LAHORE: Pakistan Test skipper Shan Masood is likely to be removed from his role, with Salman Ali Agha expected to replace him following key Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) meetings scheduled for June 12 and 13.

The meeting will be held under the supervision of PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, with major appointments and changes expected in the team management.

According to sources, the two-day meeting will focus on several important matters, including appointments to key positions and a possible reshuffle within the national team’s management setup.

Sources privy to the matter also revealed a significant decision regarding the future of Pakistan’s Test captain is also likely to be discussed.

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Following Pakistan’s poor performances in Test cricket, the board is reportedly considering removing Shan Masood as Test captain. T20I captain Salman Ali Agha is being considered as a potential replacement to lead the side in the longest format.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez is likely to be appointed as Director International, while other major changes within the team management are also expected.

It is worth mentioning that Shan Masood was appointed Pakistan’s Test captain in January 2024 after Babar Azam stepped down from the role.

However, Pakistan’s Test record under Masood has been disappointing. During his tenure, the national side has won only four of its 16 Test matches.

Among the most notable setbacks were whitewashes against Bangladesh in both home and away Test series. Besides this, Masood’s individual batting performances have also declined during the same period.

READ: Ben Stokes could retire from international cricket: reports

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to begin consultations regarding the future of Test captaincy following the team’s disappointing series defeat against Bangladesh, under current captain Shan Masood, sources revealed on Thursday.

According to sources, discussions over appointing a new Test captain are likely to take place ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming tour of the West Indies, with a decision reportedly taken in principle to move on from Masood.

The development follows Pakistan’s defeat in the second Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, where the visitors were bowled out for 358 while chasing a daunting 437-run target.

The defeat sealed Bangladesh’s first-ever home Test series whitewash over Pakistan and came after their historic clean sweep during Pakistan’s tour in 2024.

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Shan Masood, who was appointed Pakistan’s Test captain in 2023, has led the side in 16 matches so far. Under his leadership, Pakistan have managed four victories while suffering 12 defeats.

Sources further claimed that formal discussions regarding a potential replacement are expected to take place in the coming weeks as Pakistan prepare for their next red-ball assignment.

Pakistan are scheduled to tour the West Indies for a two-match Test series between July 15 and August 7.

The matches are expected to be played at Queen’s Park Oval and the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, although the official schedule has yet to be announced.

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SYLHET: Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has addressed questions surrounding his future as skipper after his side suffered a 2-0 series defeat against Bangladesh in Sylhet on Wednesday.

The setback came on the back of another difficult red-ball outing for Pakistan, as they were beaten in both matches of the series despite moments where they appeared competitive.

Masood, who took over Pakistan’s Test leadership in 2023, has now overseen 16 matches as captain, winning four and losing 12.

During the post-match press conference, questions were raised about his record and whether he would consider stepping down from the role.

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In response, Masood said that any decisions regarding leadership and team direction lie with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), while reiterating that his focus remains on long-term improvement rather than short-term fixes.

“I took up the Test [captaincy] role to improve the red-ball cricket of Pakistan. Certain matters need to be discussed and debated with the board, and the final decision always rests with the board,” Masood said.

“My intention and purpose have always been to find ways to improve this team. You must always accept challenges and also embrace opportunities.”

Shan Masood also made it clear that his commitment to the side is not dependent on captaincy alone, adding that he continues to view representing Pakistan as a matter of pride and responsibility in any capacity.

“My effort will remain the same in any capacity. It is not necessary that I only speak while sitting in the captain’s chair or as a player,” he stated.

“We do not know where life takes us. Whatever the situation, this has always been my approach. I have worn this shirt with great pride and have set everything aside to work for this cause.”

Reflecting on the broader challenges, the left-hander pointed out the fine margins in Test cricket and how small errors often prove costly over the course of five days.

He called for greater discipline and improvement across all departments, rather than reactionary changes.

“Rather than change, we need to focus on how test cricket can be improved and what mistakes can be reduced, because, as I said earlier, there is no margin for error in Test cricket. In a five-day game, these mistakes become very costly,” he concluded.

READ: How did the Bangladesh series defeat affected Pakistan in WTC 2025-27?

SYLHET: Pakistan captain Shan Masood admitted that his side paid the price for repeated mistakes after Bangladesh completed a historic 2-0 Test series whitewash with a 78-run victory in the second Test at Sylhet on Wednesday.

Despite a spirited fightback led by Mohammad Rizwan, who scored a fighting 94 in the fourth innings, Pakistan were bowled out for 358 while chasing a daunting 437-run target at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

The defeat marked Bangladesh’s first-ever home Test series whitewash over Pakistan and came after their landmark clean sweep during Pakistan’s tour in 2024.

Speaking after the match, Masood acknowledged that Pakistan failed to capitalise on key moments despite repeatedly putting themselves in competitive positions throughout the series.

“We made a lot of mistakes, and when you make 360 runs in the fourth innings of the game, you kinda expect to be on the right side of it, but I think in the three innings we had quite a lot to reflect on,” Masood said during the post-match presentation.

The Pakistan skipper pointed towards crucial phases where the visitors allowed Bangladesh back into the contest, particularly after reducing them to a vulnerable position in the first innings.

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“When they were 116 for 6, the last four wickets ended up scoring a lot of runs, and even when we got to 142 for 4, the set batters in Test cricket have to go big,” he added.

“There were things we didn’t do well enough in the first three innings and that’s why the effort on the fourth and fifth day didn’t really materialise into a win.”

Shan Masood further stressed the demanding nature of Test cricket and said Pakistan must improve their consistency if they want to compete with the top sides in the format.

“Test cricket, you’re going to be punished for any mistake you make, it’s unforgiving and Test cricket is always played by the best of the best. You’re not going to get any easy games, you have to grind results out, and that’s what you have to do as a side,” he said.

The left-handed batter also insisted that Pakistan have often managed to stay in contests but failed to finish strongly when it mattered most.

“We’ve put ourselves into position, I can only count a couple of Tests where we’ve been completely outplayed, but in every other Test we’ve been in positions where we didn’t finish well,” he concluded.

READ: How did the Bangladesh series defeat affected Pakistan in WTC 2025-27?

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.

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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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