Rawalpindi: Pakistan faced a historic defeat against Bangladesh in the second Test, losing by 6 wickets and marking the first time Bangladesh has won a Test series against Pakistan. This defeat not only ended Pakistan’s hopes of a comeback in the series but also added to the mounting pressure on captain Shan Masood, who has yet to secure a Test victory since taking over the reins.
In a post-match interview, Masood candidly expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance. “This result is very disappointing,” he admitted, acknowledging the high hopes the team had for the home season. Reflecting on the series, Masood drew parallels with Pakistan’s previous losses to Australia, emphasizing that the team had failed to learn from past mistakes. “We were playing good cricket in Australia, but it wasn’t enough. We’ve been in dominant positions four times during my tenure, but each time, the match slipped out of our hands,” he added.
Masood also pointed out the physical demands of Test cricket, suggesting that the team’s fitness levels need to be addressed. He explained that Pakistan had opted to play four fast bowlers in the first Test to manage the workload, but the strategy backfired when they lost a fast bowler in each innings. “We thought three bowlers and two spinners would be enough, but we could have included another fast bowler,” he conceded.
The Pakistani captain did not shy away from acknowledging individual performances either. Using Liton Das as an example, he noted that while Pakistan’s first-innings total of 274 runs was decent, there was potential for more. “I and Sam could have added more runs like Liton. When Bangladesh lost six wickets for 26 runs, we should have capitalized and bowled them out quickly. This is an area we need to improve on, especially in our bowling,” Masood explained.
Addressing the inclusion of key players like Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, Masood emphasized the importance of keeping these players fit and agile for the long season ahead. “Shaheen has been playing continuously across all formats for the last year. We can’t keep him out of the team, but we need to ensure he’s better prepared. This is going to be a long Test and domestic season, and we need to be ready for England,” he stressed.
Masood’s remarks indicate a captain aware of his team’s shortcomings and eager to turn things around. However, with a challenging season ahead, including a series against England, it remains to be seen how Pakistan will address these issues and improve their performance on the international stage.
