Shan Masood Eager To Do Well In Australia
Zeeshan Mehtab Published November 29, 2023 | 07:39 PM
The newly-appointed Pakistan test cricket captain, Shan Masood, has said that the team is excited to take up the challenge in unfamiliar conditions during the three tests rubber away in Australia
LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Nov, 2023) The newly-appointed Pakistan test cricket captain, Shan Masood, has said that the team is excited to take up the challenge in unfamiliar conditions during the three tests rubber away in Australia.
Addressing a pre-departure press conference at the PCB headquarters, Gaddafi Stadium here on Wednesday, he said "we see the Australian series as an opportunity and challenge and how it can help us rise in the World Test Championship". He expressed his intent to play good cricket for Pakistan and make fans happy.
On his lackluster performance as a test batter, Shan Masood attributed his below-par past performances to inconsistent selection criterion, adding that he had made up the deficiencies in his batting approach where he could not translate good starts into big scores. He said he had done well in England and Pakistan Cup recently and was confident to take his form forward in Australia. “I am in a good shape and, hopefully, will contribute good scores on the tour,” he added.
On Pakistan’s chances of turning the tables on Australia against whom the team had lost 14 test matches on the trot, he said the team did well in the 2019 tour and managed 300 plus runs in all four innings of the two test match series, adding that there was need to score 400 plus runs by the bating unit, especially in the first innings of a test match.
When asked, he said Babar Azam is the best batsman in the unit, adding that he is leader of the batting unit and whole batting strategy revolves around him. He further said Babar Azam will bat at No. 4 in the test as always. He also confirmed that Imam ul Haq and Abdullah Shafique will open the innings as they have enviable record over the past one year, while he himself will bat at No. 3 as he batted at the position during the domestic tournament.
On captaincy, Shan Masood said that he did not see captaincy as a threat to be made a scapegoat in case of failure but as an opportunity to relish and perform with responsibility. He said his stint as captain of Multan Sultans, Derbyshire and Yorkshire have contributed to his growth as a captain and "I will try to translate that experience in my responsibilities with the Pakistan team".
He said he was not awed by the presence of former captains Babar Azam and Sarfraz Ahmed in the team, adding that he would cherish their presence as big names bring good advice and make one's job easy. He said Babar, Sarfraz, Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi had performed in pressure situations and their experience would be an asset to his being on-the-field.
“Everyone in the team is leader and he should come forward and lead in his field," he said and added that the team would only grow when all would play as leaders and contribute for Pakistan.
He expressed his satisfaction with the squad selected for the Australia series, adding that he was completely on board in the selection matters. He said the recent team selection is a message for the domestic players that their performance would be recognised whenever an opportunity occurred, adding that selection of Khurram Shahzad and Mir Hamza was a testament to his statement.
On being asked, the captain said some wished were not be fulfilled, adding that he had wished, in the absence of injured Naseem Shah, to have the pace of Haris Rauf at his disposal, but it did not happen. He said English pacer Mark Wood did really good with his pace.
Shan admitted the fact that the Australia-bound squad lacked in the fast-bowling department due to the absence of Naseem Shah, adding that the batting line-up was ‘settled’ and was doing well for some time now. He said that the decision on playing Sarfraz Ahmed or Muhammad Rizwan or both of them would be made in the light of conditions, adding that Rizwan did well in the Australian conditions during the 2019 series and was the highest run-getter for Pakistan in the two-test rubber.
About criticism, Shan said he would welcome constructive criticism and try to improve through it, adding that he would accept responsibility for his acts. He said the team had prepared well by replicating Australian conditions in anticipation of the bouncy pitches, adding that the team had prepared well for the series.
On drop-in pitches in Pakistan, he said the idea was good to have drop-in pitches in Pakistan. However, he added, he was appreciative of the beauty of the game that every country played in its own conditions. He said the need was to expose the younger players to an opportunity to play in the Australian conditions and gain the first-hand knowledge of the conditions there and perform well when the series comes up.
Hailing Adam John Hollioake’s appointment as batting coach during the Australia series, he said different teams hire local coaches to get first-hand knowledge of the foreign conditions, and different teams in the past hired services of former Pakistani cricketers like Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed to exploit local conditions in a better way. He said Adam had served as England captain and played cricket for Surrey besides winning nine county championships, and he also served as consultant of the English team during the last Ashes. He said Hollioake was currently coaching Queensland, adding that his appointment would serve the cause of the team in good stead.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Kaghan Valley tourism season officially kicks off with MNJ road opening
Unhealthy lifestyle increasing hypertension, other diseases: Dr Bilal
So-called legislation, court decisions cant' absolve India of its int'l obligati ..
Participate in #Y100YSoCool Contest and Get a Chance to Win All-New vivo Y100
European stocks dip from records, shrugging off gains elsewhere
Federal govt holds ceremony in honour of Hockey team
Chinese FM reiterates continued support to Pakistan for financial stability
Lily Greenberg of Biden administration resigns over US stance on Gaza war
T20 World Cup 2024: Legendary cricketers take part in festivities at New York’ ..
PM arrives in Muzaffarabad on day-long visit
Imran Khan’s photo during SC hearing goes viral
Imran Khan appears before SC via video link in NAB amendment case
More Stories From Sports
-
Pakistan team intensifies training ahead of FIH Nation’s Cup
36 minutes ago -
Trials of boys, girls of Malakand region to start from May 20: RSO Malakand
2 hours ago -
Federal govt holds ceremony in honour of Hockey team
3 hours ago -
T20 World Cup 2024: Legendary cricketers take part in festivities at New York’s Nassau’s ground
4 hours ago -
Five-star Celtic seal 54th Scottish league title
7 hours ago -
Pakistan qualifies for Central Asian Volleyball League final
21 hours ago
-
Pakistan wins bronze medal in Poomsae event of Asian Taekwondo Championship
22 hours ago -
VC praise interest of women, children in challenging sports
22 hours ago -
Babar Azam promises ‘positive intent’, aggressive approach against England
22 hours ago -
Sabalenka breezes past Ostapenko and into Rome Open semis
22 hours ago -
Pakistan team grabs bronze medal in Asian Taekwondo C'ship
23 hours ago -
Peshawar Zone wins trophy of KP HED Inter-College Girls Games
24 hours ago