In a comprehensive press conference convened at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium,Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood exuded confidence in the team’scomposition for the imminent Australia tour, underscoring the unwaveringsignificance of star batsman Babar Azam.
Masood provided assurance that Babar Azam’s batting position would remainunaltered, emphasizing his pivotal role in shaping the team’s strategicapproach. Expressing contentment with the team’s selection process, Masoodelucidated on a unified approach among team members.
He stated, “Our Test team is settled, and the World Test Championship hasalready started on that note,” subtly alluding to the consistent openingpair of Abdullah Shafique and Imam Ul Haq, with himself poised to bat atnumber 3. While acknowledging the importance of Babar Azam as the team’spremier batter, Masood affirmed, “You build your team around your bestbatter, so his position will not be tinkered with.”Delving into squad selection, Masood underscored the recognition ofdomestic performers such as Saim, Khurram Shehzad, and Mir Hamza. However,he also emphasized the significance of player availability, referencingHaris Rauf and the imperative to respect player decisions. Despiteexpressing a reluctance to make unnecessary changes to the settled team,Masood underscored the team’s unequivocal intent to secure victory inAustralia, which is reflected in their playing approach.
Addressing the presence of past captains in the team, Masood viewed it asan asset that alleviates the captain’s responsibilities. He stressed acollective leadership approach, citing players like Sarfaraz Ahmed,Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Babar Azam contributing valuableinsights on the field.
Read Top Stories
Speaking about his relationship with predecessor Babar Azam, Masoodmentioned a “really good relationship” both on and off the field. SarfrazAhmed’s presence was deemed “very important,” credited with changing thestyle of Pakistan’s batting. Masood highlighted the valuable experience ofplayers like Sarfaraz, Rizwan, and Babar, considering it crucial for thechallenging tour of Australia.
On the bowling front, Shan Masood admitted the absence of a fully settledunit, particularly with Naseem Shah unavailable. The captain acknowledgedthe success in Sri Lanka and emphasized the need for clarity in the fastbowling combination once in Australia. The Pakistan squad is scheduled toembark from Lahore on November 30, with three Test matches in Australiaslated from December 14, 2023, to January 7, 2024.