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Shan Masood - Why is he selected again?

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radahad

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Joined
Mar 4, 2014
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218
Honest question

Just take a look at this FC average or average in any other format http://www.espncricinfo.com/canada/content/player/233901.html

Definitely not becoming of an opener, especially when we have guys with phenomenally higher first-class averages like say Fawad Alam on the brink. Don't want this to turn into a Fawad Alam fan club thread (even though I am a fan), but let's skip that.

But I honestly want to know, what is it about him. Some of the "sensationalist" theories here are that it's nepotism...but what nepotism??? What ties does he have to the PCB? Please back your arguments up with facts.

EDIT: Apparently he is in line to replace Shehzad in the test series, which is why I am asking. Seems like a great kid though (personality wise).
 
He has a classical opener technique. Some players perform better internationally than domestically because of the challenge.
 
He is a very good batsman and will be a consistent performer for Pakistan for many years.

Sadly he is extremely underrated on this forum. He is one batsman who will be able to survive and hold his own in tough conditions.

A unbelievable fielder and his fitness is number 1 in the whole of Pakistan.

He is a very hard worker, in fact this whole Pakistan team is. I cannot name you one guy who doesn't work hard in the nets. Hardly any lazy cricketers. All are very strict when it comes to work ethic and Shaan is no different.

I hope to see him play the next test. He is a very good batsman and has almost the perfect technique.

He needs the management to go to him and completely back him. Tell him you've got 5 games on the trot. Do what you do best. And from that position I'm sure you will start to get some good scores.

This talk about 'nepotism' and whatnot is utter nonsense, trust me. Shan is selected on merit. I know Shaan very well and even he would refuse to be selected on these grounds. The Pakistan team know about his work ethic, his fielding and fitness combined is the reason he makes the squad.

Younis Khan is a huge advocate for Shaan. He and Shaan get on really well and Shaan has learnt most of his cricket from the great man. What better role model is their for a young Pakistani batsman? Both play for HBL alongside Shafiq & Shehzad.

Hope he plays in 2nd test. He was really unlucky to be dropped just one test after scoring that magnificent 70 odd on debut vs Steyn and co. Don't forget he also scored a 50* in the practice game before that test which lead to his selection.

Please don't believe the 'nepotism' and 'contacts' card for Shaan. Its utter nonsense and nothing annoys me more. Its just the typical Pakistani mentality to make a conspiracy out of everything.

Good luck Shaan!
 
He studied in England. Therfore, the PCB want him in the squad as a water boy, just so the whole dressing room can improve their English speaking skills. That's all there is to it. Nothing else to see here, ignore "bulls**t drive's" post. Shan has a poor FC record and is not deserving of a spot in the squad at all based on cricketing skills alone.
 
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His uncle is the finance Secretary , it's only after he came into position that we heard about Shan.

Some May point to the fact he was a leading runs scorer last season. I'll point out he played the most innings and his average was still just 40 which back then where the career averages of guys like taufeeq, jamshed and shezhad. Plus more importantly whenever I have seen him play he comes across as a more pleasant looking version of azhar ali but without the temperament which means he is just crap.


Currently both Shan and Amin are fighting it out to see whose the next farhat
 
Among all the openers including Shehzad, Shan has the best technique & temperament. He was part of PAK U16, U19 teams for almost 5 years, long before his uncle became Secretary. I am a Bangladeshi, but know from 2008 that the kid Shan Masood has a very good forward defense, very good measurement of his off stump & he doesn't throw his starts. Shan Masood is classic example of how young players are treated in PAK. Hafeez proved his class time & again against SAF, even ZIM, so Shan debuted against SAF, made a "Opener perfect" 75 on debut. Indeed failed in next 2 of 3 innings (his 21 at DSC was second highest out of 99, & a proper knock), but selectors retained Manzoor for SRL & now Hafeez Shahab is back as all-rounder.

Masood is extremely unlucky in 3 ways -
1. he is close relative of an influential person, which 'll always raise question mark on his inclusion. However, I am surprised to know that in PAK position of Finance Secretary is so powerful that his nephew can get into National side. I mean, there are at least 3 dozens of federal ministers, 273 federal MP, at least half a dozens of 4 star General, Cabinet Secretary, 5 dozens of full secretary, 5 state governors, 5 High Court Chief justice, Director General of Police .....I mean don't these guys have any son, brother, nephew playing cricket? If F. Secretary can make his nephew play Test cricket, in order of hierarchy, these guys are either parallel or higher & I have left out the opposition party, state government, commercial CIPs, PCB office bearers & former cricket greats.

2. He was debuted against SAF & then got dropped - after that PAK is bashing SRL, AUS & Kiwi bowlers in UAE - had there been just a couple of Tests in between, even in WI or NZ, Shan probably would have been required to be called back, without the memo of his uncle. Not many PAK openers are capable of shoulder arming all 6 balls of Steyn.

3. In sub-continent we are very much fond of cult movie culture - the Dilip Kumars, the Amitabhs, the Mithuns - all those deprived, poor, orphan road rockers. Here heroes are born in poverty, learns from survival & fights against nepotism, double standards. If a player comes from rich, influential family, if he has a graduation from a UK University, if he has an influential relative - he simply can't be talented, though his technique, his fitness & performance might defy, but formula doesn't lie.
 
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He can't average above 35 in FC to save his life. Technique ko Rona hai? Needs to perform in FC heavily to merit a spot in International Test Team.
 
^^ Along with stats, one should look for where, against whom, which ball used (not bowler, ball, cricket ball) & context as well. Otherwise a school boy with a lap top can serve perfectly as Chairman of Selector. Azhar Ali averages 34 in Domestics (take out his 42 Test average from FC average of 36) & Khurram Manzoor averages 44 (net off Test).
 
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MMHS said:
^^ Along with stats, one should look for where, against whom, which ball used (not bowler, ball, cricket ball) & context as well. Otherwise a school boy with a lap top can serve perfectly as Chairman of Selector. Azhar Ali averages 34 in Domestics (take out his 42 Test average from FC average of 36) & Khurram Manzoor averages 44 (net off Test).
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You need to have elements like technique backed by stats which indicate your ability to score runs. I don't rate Shan Masood he is very limited batsman IMO and Azhar Ali averages 50 in List A, And I do support Azhar Ali because he has been scoring runs and is a solid batsman. Shan Masood never really was a big thing to talk about in Domestics. Jamshed has the potential to be our opener for all 3 formats, Only matter of time he regains his head and form.
 
Looks pretty decent to me and hasn't played remotely enough game to be chastised for his domestic record especially when his 70 on debut against SA was one of the best Test innings from a Pakistani opener in a long time.
 
Looked very very mediocre imo. Him and Umar Amin don't have what it takes to do well at the highest level. Might as well let Hafeez open with Shehzad if Masood is the best you can come up with.
 
Because he's a close friend of Bullet Drive?

I see no potential/talent in him. His domestic stats are also one of the most mediocre but I don't blindly go for stats. If he had any potential and technique, would've rated him.

Yes, he scored 70 vs SA in UAE, but Manzoor also scored about 140 and that 70 was almost all due to edges and being lucky, nothing was classy about it. When you out-number Manzoor in being lucky, you seriously have a problem.

I hope he don't play for PAK and rather we invest in proper opening batsmen like Babar Azam, Amin and Sami.
 
Mamoon said:
Looks pretty decent to me and hasn't played remotely enough game to be chastised for his domestic record especially when his 70 on debut against SA was one of the best Test innings from a Pakistani opener in a long time.
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I swear half his runs were from edges, reminde me of the great Farhat edge ton against New Zealand, plus Mazoor of all people made 140 there . Shan is Azhar Ali without the willpower, which means he just crap
 
pakistanigoneaussie said:
I swear half his runs were from edges, reminde me of the great Farhat edge ton against New Zealand, plus Mazoor of all people made 140 there . Shan is Azhar Ali without the willpower, which means he just crap
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That's why you need to play with soft hands. I'd rather give him a chance in the next 2 Tests rather than Taufeeq.

I like the latter and he has been mistreated throughout his career but his time has gone.
 
Should be given last two games to see what he is made of. I would rather go with a youngster than having Taufeea back.
 
Mamoon said:
That's why you need to play with soft hands. I'd rather give him a chance in the next 2 Tests rather than Taufeeq.

I like the latter and he has been mistreated throughout his career but his time has gone.
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Taufeeq is better than Shan and that speaks volumes about the quality of the latter.

No idea where you came up with the line 'best Test innings from a Pakistani opener in a long time'. That title goes to Manzoor's knock, Shan really got lucky that day. He's neither a timer nor a proper stroke-maker.
 
Hawkeye said:
Taufeeq is better than Shan and that speaks volumes about the quality of the latter.

No idea where you came up with the line 'best Test innings from a Pakistani opener in a long time'. That title goes to Manzoor's knock, Shan really got lucky that day. He's neither a timer nor a proper stroke-maker.
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Taufeeq is finished now. I like Masood's technique and I think he can handle the new ball very well but I concede that he's look well short on talent. Most likely won't make it but definitely deserves a few more chances.

Perhaps his selection in the first place was unfair, but getting dropped after just 2 Tests after making a 70 on debut against the best pace attack and top scoring among all batsmen in the second Test when we collapsed to 99 all out was even more unfair.
 
Mamoon said:
Taufeeq is finished now. I like Masood's technique and I think he can handle the new ball very well but I concede that he's look well short on talent. Most likely won't make it but definitely deserves a few more chances.

Perhaps his selection in the first place was unfair, but getting dropped after just 2 Tests after making a 70 on debut against the best pace attack and top scoring among all batsmen in the second Test when we collapsed to 99 all out was even more unfair.
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Yes, it was unfair and I spoke against it as well when they replaced him with Shehzad.

But now we have to look for long-term options. Amin/Babar should be slotted in. I guess both are not in the squad so I'll prefer Haris Sohail being given a chance with Azhar opening.

If they still want another opener and not Hafeez, then Shan and Azhar can open with Haris in the middle order. But I'll prefer Haris' inclusion over him.
 
Would still select Shan over Taufeeq, the latter has been given plenty of chances starting 11 years ago, while the former hasn't played a large enough sample size of games to be criticized. Basically, Shan still has time to prove himself and should be given the opening slot with Shehzad out if Pakistan hope to build for the future.
 
Lol this kid is high quality. If you couldn't see that in his debut innings you weren't watching the same game. If Hafeez didn't refuse to go down the order or stop playing Tests he'd be a mainstay as our opener.
 
Proving his worth.

Horrible selection. Clueless & owned by Sodhi completely.

Pak has just made their batting too weak by including Shan and Taufeeq both!
 
Poison said:
Lol this kid is high quality. If you couldn't see that in his debut innings you weren't watching the same game. If Hafeez didn't refuse to go down the order or stop playing Tests he'd be a mainstay as our opener.
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I'd have Hafeez over him anyday :akhtar
 
Could be another Amin, good technique, but get's out at wrong time? But still early days for him. I didn't watch his dismissal but looking on cricinfo it was an excellent delivery.
 
IAJ said:
Could be another Amin, good technique, but get's out at wrong time? But still early days for him. I didn't watch his dismissal but looking on cricinfo it was an excellent delivery.
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Dude, this guy has no technique and is far far far from being Amin who is a proper elegant batsman with one of the best technique in Pak, rated by Yousuf and everyone else. Best timer as well in PAK.

Shan has no technique, no performances either. In short, no ability and isn't the future while Amin has good potential and will come good if given a chance.
 
Thanks to Misbah's courage and intelligence to select the eligible players Shan and Taufeeq as replacements for Shehzad. :bow::bow:
 
Seriously very poor batsman and never understand why is he rated. His only inning was a lucky fluke.
 
He is in the team as a "Stop Salman Butt being a future captain" candidate, and probably that's a fair call. There is no sign that any other player in the team apart from Misbah and Younis has the calm and the intelligence for the job.

My thoughts are that Pakistan only has a tiny pool of potential openers for the next five years in Test cricket.

Ahmed Shehzad
Azhar Ali
Salman Butt
Nasir Jamshed

That's it. There's no-one else technically good enough, period. And Nasir Jamshed appears to share Inzamam's cricket brain as well as his appetite, which is a depressing prospect.

It's going to be a big call on Salman Butt next September after the way he behaved. But let's be totally frank: the alternative is clowns like Shan Masood or Imran Farhat. What would you prefer?
 
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This chap is definition of a Poor Cricketer, I dare say I would prefer Farhat ahead of him
 
Exactly a pathetic batsman watched this innings and was thinking how does he is gonna score runs can't play in the V not strong on off side doesn't hooks all that was just glance and edges
 
Give him the rest of the series atleast before making a judgement. Boy do the knives come out quickly here.
 
Boi said:
Give him the rest of the series atleast before making a judgement. Boy do the knives come out quickly here.
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He cant even score in domestic cricket, he didn't deserve to play a single game for Pakistan

Altogether a poor cricketer, Every XYZ cant be given a chance this is PAkistan's national team, he should be discarded for good after this match
 
Boi said:
Give him the rest of the series atleast before making a judgement. Boy do the knives come out quickly here.
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The guy has an abysmal average of 34 in First class as well and should be nowhere near the team esp when we have more deserving players rotting on the bench.
 
People need to understand we are playing on batting paradise.
 
He has played for mcc and is currently doing his degree in Loughborough.

Clearly, he has a wealthy relative!!
 
Boi said:
Give him the rest of the series atleast before making a judgement. Boy do the knives come out quickly here.
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Perhaps you don't the history behind him n his selection.

He has a poor domestic record. But I don't go for domestic averages only, and if you watch him play, he doesn't look like a proper batsman at all.

Domestic average can be ignored if a batsman show potential via his technique and range of shots. He has none.
 
I have not watched him play yet so cant judge. But according to cricinfo he got out to a great delivery so no shame in that. Better batsmen would also have gotten out to that delivery.
 
Azhar is an opener by trait, I don't know why the hell we need to play 2 pathetic openers when Hafeez was injured

Taufeeq and Azhar should have opened with HArris in middle order
 
srh said:
I have not watched him play yet so cant judge. But according to cricinfo he got out to a great delivery so no shame in that. Better batsmen would also have gotten out to that delivery.
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Was a good delivery by no means un-playable left handers have to deal with that day-in/day-out when playing through the rough, there was enough room for a Car to pass through the gap that he left b/w bat and pad
 
Very very ordinary proves my point again Khurram Manzoor would have been a better option
 
His technique exposed again. Good delivery but hardly unplayable for an SC batsman. Should be dropped permanently.
 
It doesn't matter if his domestic stats are poor because once he has been selected you have to give the guy a fair chance. Unfair to discard anyone after only a handful of games.
 
21ou6c6.jpg


Talented he is definitely, only problem is that some of the talent leaked due to this gap between bat and pad.
 
dhump said:
21ou6c6.jpg


Talented he is definitely, only problem is that some of the talent leaked due to this gap between bat and pad.
Click to expand...

This is an awesome delivery. Any other batsman of the world would have gotten out to this delivery.
 
srh said:
This is an awesome delivery. Any other batsman of the world would have gotten out to this delivery.
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Can you see any flaw in technique ??

Any other batsman can get out to this as well so argument is irrelevant.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/KevIUjiGOeY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
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srh said:
I have not watched him play yet so cant judge. But according to cricinfo he got out to a great delivery so no shame in that. Better batsmen would also have gotten out to that delivery.
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It was a good ball because it spun sharply back but the player's technique wasn't the best and there was a huge gap between bat and pad.
 
Junaids said:
He is in the team as a "Stop Salman Butt being a future captain" candidate, and probably that's a fair call. There is no sign that any other player in the team apart from Misbah and Younis has the calm and the intelligence for the job.

My thoughts are that Pakistan only has a tiny pool of potential openers for the next five years in Test cricket.

Ahmed Shehzad
Azhar Ali
Salman Butt
Nasir Jamshed

That's it. There's no-one else technically good enough, period. And Nasir Jamshed appears to share Inzamam's cricket brain as well as his appetite, which is a depressing prospect.

It's going to be a big call on Salman Butt next September after the way he behaved. But let's be totally frank: the alternative is clowns like Shan Masood or Imran Farhat. What would you prefer?
Click to expand...

God, no one wants Salman Butt back - not only corrupt, but a terrible test batsman averaging just 30.
 
Kianig89 said:
Very very ordinary proves my point again Khurram Manzoor would have been a better option
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No. When in doubt please watch Khurrum Manzoor play his stragled leg side game. Shan may or may not be the answer but Khurrum Manzoor aka Hafeez clone is not the answer
 
Junaids said:
He is in the team as a "Stop Salman Butt being a future captain" candidate, and probably that's a fair call. There is no sign that any other player in the team apart from Misbah and Younis has the calm and the intelligence for the job.

My thoughts are that Pakistan only has a tiny pool of potential openers for the next five years in Test cricket.

Ahmed Shehzad
Azhar Ali
Salman Butt
Nasir Jamshed

That's it. There's no-one else technically good enough, period. And Nasir Jamshed appears to share Inzamam's cricket brain as well as his appetite, which is a depressing prospect.

It's going to be a big call on Salman Butt next September after the way he behaved. But let's be totally frank: the alternative is clowns like Shan Masood or Imran Farhat. What would you prefer?
Click to expand...

You've got a serious problem if you want Salman Butt back in the team let alone as captain. On top of that, you overrate him. He was as good as 30ish average suggests.

And just so we are clear, I'd rather have Imran Farhat as captain than have Salman Butt anywhere close to the team.
 
dhump said:
21ou6c6.jpg


Talented he is definitely, only problem is that some of the talent leaked due to this gap between bat and pad.
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No excuse for such a huge gap between bat and pad. He might as well have just walked aside and tucked his bat under his arm and watched as a spectator.
 
I thought I made perfectly clear that I don't want Butt ever let anywhere near the captaincy.

Nevertheless, the fact is that outside Asia he is a top batsman, and in Australia on two tours he was the best batsman Pakistan has ever had in those conditions.

Pakistan has no depth in opening batsmen, and hasn't had for 40 years that I've been watching. In 2016 when you tour NZ then England then Australia your simple choice is between recalling Butt to open or giving up and accepting defeat after defeat.
 
srh said:
This is an awesome delivery. Any other batsman of the world would have gotten out to this delivery.
Click to expand...

This is a tailender's technique. The big reason he got out was because of the distance between bat and pad. He should have either taken a bigger strike to get to the pitch of the delivery or his bat should have hid behind the pad (if he wasn't anticipating so much turn). It would have meant the bowl would have gone past the outside edge or would have hit him on the pad outside off.

The kid can neither pick nor play spinners.
 
Cpt. Rishwat said:
No excuse for such a huge gap between bat and pad. He might as well have just walked aside and tucked his bat under his arm and watched as a spectator.
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This he will do for rest of the inning anyways now.
 
Seems like a genuinely good guy who has worked a lot on his game and really wants to do well but is clearly short on talent. Won't make it and I expect him to get dropped after this series.

The comparisons with Amin make no sense because Amin is far more gifted and can definitely make it.
 
Junaids said:
I thought I made perfectly clear that I don't want Butt ever let anywhere near the captaincy.

Nevertheless, the fact is that outside Asia he is a top batsman, and in Australia on two tours he was the best batsman Pakistan has ever had in those conditions.

Pakistan has no depth in opening batsmen, and hasn't had for 40 years that I've been watching. In 2016 when you tour NZ then England then Australia your simple choice is between recalling Butt to open or giving up and accepting defeat after defeat.
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1. Again, you're overrating a guy who apart from his 2 100s in Australia on separate tours was very very mediocre.
2. If we are going to lose in Australia/NZ/England then I doubt there is very much Butt can do about that. His 2 test hundreds is Australia didn't prevent us from losing.
3. Take your defeatist attitude elsewhere. Unlike you, I'd choose defeat if that meant Butt would be nowhere near the national team.
 
Also no matter that Manzooe has strangled leg side game or what but he has some strong points like good on back foot, good drive etc unlike shan who,s best area is a edge between 1st n 2nd slip n a ugly leg glance
 
well you can see the good things he has to offer; he is quite fit, good fielder, has a good technique.

all about temperament though, looks a bit short in that dept.
 
RickyG, Pakistan will have a big year in 2016.

There are those three big tours just as Misbah and Younis will have departed. And players with dodgy techniques like Hafeez will be no use.

Your challenge is to set up your wonderful quick bowling attack with enough runs. Shehzad, Azhar Ali and Shafiq are established and Umar Akmal has the technique. That still leaves an opening slot and a middle order slot to fill, with no room for error.

You shouldn't write it off as hopeless, but you need to understand that you can't afford to omit eligible players in favour of inferior ones.
 
Very mediocre opener and didnt even perform that well in warm up games yet selectors seem to think he can do a job, no surprise that both he and taufeeq failed, both are seriously poor opening options for pakistan.
 
Junaids said:
And Pakistan's all-time best batsman in Australia.
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Butt sucks against everyone else. He averages less than 30 against every other team except NZ, and he averages just 30 against them.

You don't choose a batsman just because he has done well against one team.

And no, he is not an option for Pakistan and won't be again.
 
I honestly think we need to relax. Yeah Shaan didn't have the best technique with the bat and pad, but that delivery was an absolute peach. Would have gotten the best out with that one. Kid doesn't deserve to be judged based on that.
 
Thats was a v poor shot, its a decent delivery but if u cant play that as a leftie you have no business playing intnl cricket
 
And then you have so many deserving players not given a chance.

Tuk tuk guru Azhar should open anyways.

Poor selection. You ignore players that deserve a go ans thats wrong !
 
You are as good as your numbers. Stats don't lie. For all the talk about good technique, that was some horrible technique on the delivery he got dismissed.
 
Shaan looked good before he was bowled with an absolute beauty.

Sad to see how many PAK fans have jumped on him.

Surprisingly the three most disliked are Shehzad, Amin & Shan. All three with good background and speak English well. Seems PP'ers have something against these type of people.

Shan will come good. That was an absolute beauty which got him.
 
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