During a recent press interaction, Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood faced a challenging moment when a journalist asked a contentious question.
A video circulating on social media shows the reporter questioning Masood about his thoughts on resigning due to Pakistan’s struggles in Test cricket. “You said you’d continue as long as the PCB supports you. Don’t you think it’s honourable to step aside given the team’s poor results?” the journalist asked.
Taken aback, Masood exchanged looks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) media manager and opted to sidestep the question, leading to a palpable silence before the session proceeded.
At the press conference’s conclusion, the PCB media manager called for decorum, particularly addressing the reporter named Javed. “The captain of Pakistan deserves respectful questioning,” he stated.
Since replacing Babar Azam, Masood has faced scrutiny, with Pakistan losing all five Test matches under his leadership. His initial series as captain against Australia resulted in a 3-0 defeat in the 2023-24 season, followed by a 2-0 loss at home against Bangladesh.
The upcoming Test series against England is critical as part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25. The first Test will be held in Multan from October 7-11. This series is crucial for improving England’s position in the WTC rankings.
The Pakistan squad for the first Test includes Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), and key players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The England squad features captain Ben Stokes and notable players like Joe Root and Chris Woakes.
The series schedule is as follows:
- October 7-11: First Test, Multan
- October 15-19: Second Test, Multan
- October 24-28: Third Test, Rawalpindi
