'If Winning's A Habit, Talk Of 'Division One Or Two' Will Die Down': Shan Masood

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Oct, 2025) Pakistan captain Shan Masood said that they have taken a good start in the new ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle by winning against the current WTC champions South Africa and their focus is to improve position.

Speaking at the post-match press conference at the close of first test match at the Gaddafi stadium here on Wednesday, he said, "We have taken a good start in this World Test Championship and now the challenge and opportunity for all of us is how we take this forward."

On strategy if Pakistan lose test in the second test match in Rawalpindi on a similar spin-friendly track, Shan Masood said toss is not the leveler and toss does not always dictate terms, adding, "I have told my team-mates that our stature will rise if we lose toss on a similar track and win." He said it is in Rawalpindi that they showed one of their best test performances in the last cycle. "Saud Shakeel played an exceptional knock. The tailenders provided great support. Nauman made 30-35, Sajid made 40. "So, look, this is a challenge and an opportunity for us, and I will always tell the side that if such an opportunity arises, we should show how we can play a good first innings even after losing the toss, he added."

He said, "The fourth innings is obviously difficult, and if you look, we made quite a few mistakes in our second innings. But look, mistakes happen. Mistakes happen in such conditions. We have to learn, and if we lose the toss, we will plan accordingly on how to win the match."

On the method of spin tracks and stifling the opposition, the Pakistan captain said it is not the same always, adding that Shaheen Shah Afridi made a difference today through his extraordinary pace bowling. He said in order to do well in the WTC cycle and moving forward as a test team, the team will have to do well in all departments. He said the team ticked all boxes in this match.

On inclusion of Khurram replacing Hasan in the Rawalpindi test, Shan Masood made home the idea that Shaheen and Hasan Ali are the best exponents of reverse swing in the country and that is why Hasan was preferred to Khurram in the Lahore test. He said a decision on the inclusion of an extra spinner or pacer will be made after having a look at the Rawalpindi pitch.

On discouraging budding fast-bowlers by designing dry pitches, playing spinners, and winning the matches formula, he disagreed with the idea, adding that WTC is not played under one condition and at home venues only. He further said that Shaheen Afridi gave the reply how important fast bowlers are in all conditions. Pakistan lost a home series against Bangladesh in seaming conditions.

On losing wickets in clusters and playing recklessly after getting a lead of 109 runs due to over-confidence, Shan Masood disagreed and said that it may be due to pressure of international cricket but not of over-confidence. Quoting some statistical data from his team and the proteas, he admitted the fact that Pakistan lost some 11 wickets in cluster and scores merely 33 runs. in comparison South Africa lost eight for 79 runs. He said that lower order batters have to perform well in order to be a top test team.

About thought process behind giving ball to Shaheen Afridi when spinners were getting wickets, and inclusion of Abdullah Shafique despite below-par performances, Shan Masood defended him and said that he should be given chances to regain his touch in red-ball although white-ball is not his domain.

He further said Abdullah scored 41 runs under tough conditions and this should have given him confidence as second innings was more challenging. Regarding Shaheen he said, "Look, it's simple. He's a world-class bowler. He himself, when we were talking amongst ourselves, asked he would turn the match around for me. And we completely waited for the ball to get a little older. Obviously, not giving him the new ball is a big decision. But we had full trust. He asked for the ball, saying he would do it for me. And he then delivered too. And I think the way he bowled today, I think everyone would be excited to see a very good display of fast bowling."

On low scores by Babar Azam, he said, "As I mentioned earlier that in these conditions, we need to manage our expectations regarding runs a little. I think in the first innings, he scored 23 runs, and in the second innings, 42 runs. His aggregate is 65 runs. An average of 32.2 in a Test match is a decent contribution. Yes, as I mentioned about Abdullah, he got out after getting set. For Babar, after he got set, Rabada bowled a very good reverse-swinging ball. It was a good ball, and it came in very well, and he was out on an umpire's call on impact, obviously. So, I think assurance was visible in the first innings too. When he was playing well in the first innings, two or three wickets fell simultaneously, and then his wicket fell too. And in the second innings, when he came, he looked very assured and was playing very well. He took the score up to 42. But obviously, confidence would have increased if this was 70-80. But we all knew that the conditions were not that easy. Today, even South Africa's batsmen, Rickelton got out at 40, Brevis got out at 50. So, according to the conditions, the expectations for the score also become a bit low."

On Imamul Haq's come-back innings and giving him confidence, Shan Masood said, "It was Imam giving me confidence with the way he was playing, especially how he used his feet against the spinners." He said, "The message was clear that we tried to take this partnership as long as we could. And if you look at the difference, obviously, our other wickets fell for quite fewer runs in the first innings, but we put up two 160-run partnerships, and this was the difference, as South Africa, I don't think, put up any 100-run partnership. So our message was simple. Unfortunately, I got out at that time, and then he got out, but Rizwan and Agha continued that. They put up a 160-run partnership. So, this was the message in these conditions, and Imam and I kept telling each other that we would take this partnership as far as we can. And unfortunately, as well as he was playing, he deserved a hundred. But I am very happy for his comeback, and the effort and attitude he has shown in the camp right now is spot on. He looks very good on the field, and I think it is a very good sign for Pakistan that you get such consistent runs from the top order."