Shan Masood wants consistency in winning Test matches

By our correspondent
LAHORE: Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood exuded composure and clarity as he addressed the media following his team’s emphatic 93-run win over South Africa in the first Test at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore — a result that not only puts Pakistan on the front foot in the ICC World Test Championship but also underscores a team quietly evolving under his leadership.
In a reflective and insightful press conference, Shan highlighted the significance of consistent performances over isolated victories. “Our focus has always been on how we are improving as a side,” he said. “We’re playing good cricket against top teams — whether it’s in Australia, South Africa, or England. But the real challenge is to keep winning consistently and strengthen our position in the Test Championship.”
The skipper acknowledged the unpredictable role of tosses but insisted that a team’s character is best revealed when it wins despite early disadvantages. Recalling Pakistan’s memorable win in Rawalpindi last year, he remarked, “I gave the challenge to the team to show that even if we lose the toss, we must win. That’s our identity.”
Shan praised his bowlers, especially Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali, who delivered a masterclass in reverse swing — a rare sight on a batting-friendly Lahore surface. “Hasan and Shaheen are Pakistan’s best reverse swing bowlers. What they did today was textbook. Shaheen, in particular, showed why he’s a world-class bowler — he told me he’d win it for us, and he did.”
Talking about the pitch conditions, Shan drew comparisons with previous matches, noting that batting in these parts of the world isn’t always straightforward. “The conditions are tough — hard balls, spin, seam movement. In such environments, even scoring 40-50 runs is a decent contribution,” he noted, while defending Babar Azam’s performance. “He scored 23 and 42 — an average of 32 in these conditions is respectable.”
On Abdullah Shafique, Shan was cautiously optimistic: “He showed good signs. His 41 in the first innings was important. You have to give time and invest in players like him, especially in these challenging top-order conditions.”
One of the most telling insights came when Shan emphasized the need to strengthen the lower order — pointing to the stark difference between the runs scored by South Africa’s and Pakistan’s tailenders. “We lost 11 wickets for 33 runs in a combined spell across both innings. They made 79 runs from their last eight wickets. That 50-run gap matters. We have to bridge it.”
Looking ahead, the skipper called for adaptability as the Test Championship will take them to varied conditions. “Whether it’s Duke ball in England or seam-friendly conditions in Bangladesh, we have to be prepared. Fast bowlers won’t be redundant — their role will change, but they will remain crucial.”
Masood ended on a note of unity and ambition: “This was a team win. Every department stepped up. We’ve started the World Test Championship well — now it’s about how we move forward.”