Pakistan captain Masood backs players ahead of ‘crucial’ England Tests

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood threw his weight behind the players ahead of a “crucial” three-match Test series against England, scheduled to commence on October 7.

Masood, while addressing a press conference just days before the first home Test against England, reflected on his side’s performances in the recent outings particularly the recent two-match home series against Bangladesh, during which the touring party made history by clinching their first-ever Test series win over Pakistan.

“The losses hurt, but it’s important to support the team, especially during tough times,” Masood said.

The Pakistan captain, however, emphasized the need to back the players, especially after losses, terming it essential for long-term success.

“It’s easy to make changes after a loss, but if we want to move forward, we must back our players,” Masood stated.

The left-handed batter also shared that the preparations for the recently concluded Champions One-Day Cup provided valuable insights into the players’ fitness level.

“We’ve learned a lot about our physical and mental condition, and it’s clear that improvements are needed,” stated Masood.

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“If Pakistan want 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 added.

Shan Masood, who assumed Pakistan’s Test captaincy in November 2023, is yet to win a match as the skipper, shared it feels “terrible” when the team loses.

“As a captain, it feels terrible when the team loses. It wasn’t the ideal start, but accountability comes with defeat,” Masood stated.

Pakistan squad for first Test against England: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zahid Mehmood.