Pakistan cricket has been down in the doldrums over the past 12 months or so. The team failed to get out of the group stages in both the ODI World Cup 2023, and the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024.
The side, led by Babar Azam, even fell to a humiliating defeat to USA in the T20 World Cup. And as if all of the ICC failures were not enough, the Shan Masood-led Pakistan Test team went down 2-0 at home to Bangladesh in a two-match Test series.
Masood has failed to win a single Test match after being appointed as the skipper of the format in November last year. He started with a 3-0 whitewash away to Australia and the 34-year-old still remains winless as captain after the disappointing series-defeat to Bangladesh.
Amidst all the criticism thrown at Masood, the skipper has garnered support from India spinner Ravi Ashwin who called him 'brilliant'.
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What did Ravi Ashwin say about Pakistan Test skipper Shan Masood?
Ashwin was very vocal in his support for Masood in his recent YouTube video. Primarily talking about Babar Azam, Ashwin took the chance to offer his sympathy towards Masood, calling him a brilliant cricketer.
However, Ashwin hinted at a the possible tussle in the dressing room, following a string of unfavourable results. Babar has been the spine of Pakistan batting over the recent years. The emergence of Masood in the Test setup has been prominent, leading him to captain his side in the red-ball game.
"I feel bad for someone like Shan Masood. He is a brilliant cricketer. I know that guy. He speaks a lot of sense. He can be an excellent captain for Pakistan. But handling a Pakistan team at this point, where somebody like Babar Azam is not the captain and he's the poster boy of Pakistan, it cannot be an easy dressing room," Ashwin said.
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What is Shan Masood's record as Pakistan skipper?
Shan Masood is yet to win a single Test match for Pakistan as captain. He is the first Pakistan skipper to lose his first five Test matches as captain.
| Opposition | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1st Test (Dec 14 - Dec 17, 2023) | AUS won by 360 runs |
| Australia | 2nd Test (Dec 26 - Dec 29, 2023) | AUS won by 79 runs |
| Australia | 3rd Test (Jan 03 - Jan 06, 2024) | AUS won by 8 wickets |
| Bangladesh | 1st Test (Aug 21 - Aug 25, 2024) | BAN won by 10 wickets |
| Bangladesh | 2nd Test (Aug 30 - Sep 03, 2024) | BAN won by 6 wickets |
What next for Shan Masood and Pakistan?
Shan Masood & Co. are set for yet another stern test at home, as England visit Pakistan for a three-match Test tour as a part of the World Test Championship (2023-25).
The first match will be held in Multan from October 07 to October 11, 2024. Pakistan are currently placed eighth on the latest WTC rankings, and the three home Tests would decide their fate in the ongoing campaign.
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