Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood said that the team is paying the price for not playing regular Test cricket. Batting for more red-ball
games for current and upcoming players, he cheekily added that one cannot prepare for a science exam and sit for a maths paper as well.
Under Masood, Pakistan suffered a 2-0 loss to Bangladesh at home recently in a two-match Test series that concluded on Tuesday, September 3.
He said (as quoted by ESPNcricinfo): “Bangladesh have two players who have played 70-90 Tests (Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahman), and Litton [Das] and Mehidy [Hasan Miraz] have played close to 40. We need the same level of red-ball exposure. Test cricket is the ultimate format of the game. You need experience. It’s obvious we need more Test and red-ball cricket.
“Whatever format you play is the format for which you’ll produce players. You can’t play more T20 cricket and get Test players. You can’t prepare for science and then sit for a maths exam. If you’re being tested for maths, you study maths. To play red-ball cricket, you must play red-ball cricket,” the Pakistan captain again added.
Before the 2-0 loss to Bangladesh at home, Shan Masood-led Pakistan were lost by 3-0 in a Test series in Australia. Their performances in Test cricket came under the scanner.
“I am not worried for my job security. I took this job to make the changes we believe will help this team. If I believe this team can go in a certain direction, even if my personal failure takes Pakistan to that direction, I will be content. However much time I get, I’ll be grateful for and do my best,” he concluded.
