Pakistan Test team captain Shan Masood expressed optimism for the future as his side prepares for the upcoming Test series against England, despite suffering a disappointing whitewash against Bangladesh. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Masood emphasized the importance of backing players rather than making hasty changes following losses.
“It’s easy to make changes after a loss, but if we want to move forward, we must back our players,” Masood stated. He acknowledged the team’s deep regret over their recent performances but remained hopeful for improvement as they gear up for the three-match Test series starting on October 7 at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The second Test will also take place at the same venue, while the third match is scheduled for October 24-28 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. This series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25.
Masood highlighted that the team has learned valuable lessons about both their physical and mental fitness, underscoring the need for significant improvements in these areas. “If Pakistan wants to become a top Test side, we need to significantly improve both physical and mental fitness. Our conditioning should be on par with other top teams in the world,” he noted.
Reflecting on his leadership role, Masood admitted that losing is always challenging and stated, “As a captain, it feels terrible when the team loses. It wasn’t the ideal start, but accountability comes with defeat.” He pointed out that the team had multiple opportunities to gain an advantage against Bangladesh but failed to capitalize on them.
Regarding team selections, Masood mentioned the return of Aamir Jamal from injury and confirmed that the current squad was chosen based on player fitness. “For now, we’ve built the squad for one Test, considering the players’ fitness levels,” he said. He also mentioned that if needed, Zahid Mahmood would be added to the squad.
Concluding his remarks, Masood acknowledged the pressure that comes with professional sports but reaffirmed that no player enjoys losing. Mahmood is set to join the pre-Test camp in Multan as the 16th player, with the final squad for the first Test being trimmed to 15 players.
