Shan Masood Test captaincy under pressure?

Captaining the Shan Masood side has become a pivotal moment for Pakistan’s red-ball captain as the team’s continued struggles in red-ball cricket have not been resolved by his leadership. The rebuild started on a high note in late 2023 and has been further called into question with another poor overseas campaign.

Babar Azam’s resignation led to the appointment of Shan Masood as Pakistan’s new Test skipper. It was viewed as a new beginning for Pakistan cricket in the longest format. The aim was simple. Create consistent team identity and consistency under difficult situations.

But the outcomes have been unfavourable for Pakistan. The bowlers have not been consistent in their delivery while the batters have not been consistent in their scoring in important overseas matches. There have been times of resistance, but it hasn’t been enough to benefit matches for Pakistan.

One of the major concerns has been batting stability. Pakistan has been continuing to suffer from top order collapses in adverse circumstances. The absence of long-term relationships has increased the burden of the middle order. This has made it more difficult for the team to beat their opponents at home.

The bowling has been good in quick bursts, but hasn’t been holding the attackers in check over long sessions. There have been missed opportunities due to fielding failures too.

A period of transition that is proving to be longer than expected during Masood’s tenure, which has been based on intent and rebuilding. There is some criticism of Pakistan that it hasn’t set up a proper long-term red-ball setup yet. But those who support the rebuilding process feel that it must be done in a time frame, and in a consistent manner in selections.

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