"The Pakistan dressing room is a good place to be right now " : Shan Masood

[MenInG]

Shan Masood speaking to the press

On The Gabba

I don’t think it’s unfamiliar [The Gabba] as far as our team is considered. Not too far down the line, we were here in 2016 and I think the batting line up then — we have three guys that played that particular Test match and even some from the lower order and then they posted about 400-odd runs while chasing 450 so they’ve got some experience. As far as the Gabba is concerned, I think the preparation in Perth will set us up in good stead. We spent 10 days over there played, against a really good Australia A attack so we’ve done as much as we could have to prepare and hopefully the experience from 2016 — three of our main guys in that batting order will help us all settle in well.

On Naseem Shah

This season has been my first experience of seeing Naseem Shah as a bowler. It’s really exciting watching a 16-year old come to the fore-end and really sort of take the domestic circuit by surprise. I don’t know if you’ve followed our domestic season but the pitches were quite docile and Naseem Shah was a standout bowler. And after the sad loss of his mother, I think it took great guts and we should appreciate what he did stepping out on the field in the second innings at The Optus and he produced a really good spell. So I hope he plays and I’m sure if he plays he is going to enjoy bowling on such tracks and against such a formidable team like Australia.

I think losing a parent is irreplaceable and the guts and the courage he showed to step out on the field again and kind of do it for his family, do it for his mother and also do it for his team and his country — that was quite commendable. A 16-year old being that mature — I mean if we only talk about how he is doing in cricket right now that’s a lot of maturity there, but losing his mother and stepping out on the field when we are all the way in Australia, kind of the other end of the world and not going back, staying here and putting his hand up that he wants to do well for the team and for the country — that’s commendable and I think that is going to reward him. That sort of attitude is what we are looking for in all the guys and as a team we are trying to stick behind him. All we can do is offer support, our prayers and our hope for the well-being of his mother and himself as well. I think we all are very happy with how he has responded and hopefully he is going to be a star in the making.

Look we’ve got Muhammad Musa in the side as well. He’s 18-years old and bowls 90 mph. Then we’ve got some experience with Abbas who has been up there in the Test rankings. We have Imran Khan [Sr] making a comeback — he did really well in the side game for us. We’ve got one of the best spinners in the world in Yasir Shah; Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has been formidable for Pakistan in all formats so I think we’re in good stead. And what Naseem Shah did, it rubbed off the whole unit as well and I think as a whole unit at The Optus whether it was batting, bowling or fielding we did a decent enough job to give ourselves a good chance in the series and the dressing room is quite a vibrant place now. A lot of new guys, a lot of exciting new guys and it’s a good place to be — the Pakistan dressing room right now and we’re hoping to put up a good show on here.


On Steve Smith

As a player, as a spectator of the game as well, I think it’s very refreshing seeing somebody play the game on his own terms and kind of defy what the textbooks have set out. And that’s what we’ve always been told to do when we started the game: to know your own game and to play according to your own strengths. I think he has done that very well and his stats speak for themselves. He’s a great player. As far as planning is concerned, you can’t go in the loop of just planning against one batsman. I think they’ve got a very good side, especially in their own home conditions as well and they’re always a tough side to beat in Australia and even away. So we can’t get into the trap of just planning against Steve Smith. I think if we stick to our strengths and respect the conditions and respect the opposition I’m sure we’re here to put a good show as well.


On preference to face Starc versus others

You obviously like facing what you have faced before but look Mitchell Starc is a great bowler. He has done well for Australia for a number of years and he is the lead of that bowling attack and has been for several years. So we want to play against the best and it’s when you play against the best when it counts the most so I mean whatever Australia put out we are ready to face that.


On Neser

I think a lot of the guys talked about Neser even before. We faced him a bit in the UAE in a practice match just before the start of the Test series. I didn’t think the tracks had a lot to offer to him then but what we faced at The Optus — very decent bowler, will bowl that line and length all day and we likened him a bit to Vernon Philander but with probably a bit more pace. So I think he’s a very skilful bowler but looking at the whole Australian bowling line up I think he’ll have to do a really good job to get into that because they’ve already got a pretty formidable attack.

On World Test Championship

With the way Test cricket is going now we’ve seen that outside the subcontinent and even in the subcontinent nowadays, Test matches hardly last 5 days so if you look at that what you get is the amount of time you get on the crease is going to be less than what you would get in 5 days. So I think the scoring rates would have to be up there but with good bowling line ups in both teams there will be times where you’ll have to knuckle down and really spend time at the crease as well, but there will be times where you’ll have to score quickly and put some scoreboard pressure so that you get an advantage in the game.

We are still settling in terms of accepting the World Test Championship. This is going to be our first representation of it. I think it’s too early to look at the final which is in two years time. But it’s a great opportunity. The points that are available in both Test matches are significant because its a two Test match series. I don’t think there will be added pressure, I think it will be an added incentive that nothing will be a dead rubber here, as it is a two Test match series. Even a single win would be good but look as the World Test Championship has started we will be looking to get as much points as possible from this particular outing.


On shirt numbers/names

Our board is pretty strict on that matter, numbers have already been the same that are in the ODIs and the T20s where we are carrying the same numbers. So it has been a strict policy of no change in numbers.


On Dean Jones column

Everyone has a right to an opinion. With Dean Jones, he has worked with a PSL franchise and he’s going to move to another PSL franchise so he knows his stuff about Pakistani cricket because he has been there for 3-4 years working with the boys. But I would look at it as an opportunity. If something people say is not possible imagine getting those results in your way. So it’s a great opportunity and all of us in the dressing room look at this as an opportunity. If it doesn’t happen we will learn from it but if we do succeed over here it will be history in the making, as we’ve seen Pakistan’s record in Australia before. It’s a huge opportunity and whoever raise their hands and steps up — they’re in for a very good career.

 

[MenInG]

Some lovely words from Shan on Naseem

 

[angrypathan]

What I would give to have a more skilful cricketer with the same verbal eloquence leading our side

 

[Hawkeye]

Unfortunately, the only misfit appears to be you.

While Shan has good English and communication skills, he lacks the skills actually required for the job: being able to bat.

It pains me to see how he's in the national team, with his very limited skillset, inability to handle international class bowlers. With him, our top order will always be exposed to the new ball.

Some people are easily fooled by fluke knocks. Everyone will be calling for his head after ~5 Test matches.

 

[Junaids]

Should be the captain.

Sure he’s only half the batsman that Azhar Ali was. But he’s five years younger and is a far better batsman now than Azhar ever will be again.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

Shan's got a good head on his shoulders, being well educated. I hope he performs well this series. He's looked good since SA.

 

[world cup captain]

Unfortunately, the only misfit appears to be you.

While Shan has good English and communication skills, he lacks the skills actually required for the job: being able to bat.

It pains me to see how he's in the national team, with his very limited skillset, inability to handle international class bowlers. With him, our top order will always be exposed to the new ball.

Some people are easily fooled by fluke knocks. Everyone will be calling for his head after ~5 Test matches.

You seem to have double standards with people of your dislike. Shaan, a hardworking cricketer goes to foreign coaching on his own dime to work on himself and then comes back by scoring a plethora of runs in the domestic, yet you want him out by calling him a fluke.

On the other hand, you continue to support the brainless Umar Akmal who can barely even fluke it in domestics with his record-setting potbelly, let alone score in international cricket.

 

[PakPremi]

You seem to have double standards with people of your dislike. Shaan, a hardworking cricketer goes to foreign coaching on his own dime to work on himself and then comes back by scoring a plethora of runs in the domestic, yet you want him out by calling him a fluke.

On the other hand, you continue to support the brainless Umar Akmal who can barely even fluke it in domestics with his record-setting potbelly, let alone score in international cricket.

Hard to disagree withanything. Shan will score more runs than Azhar Ali and perhaps Haris, the form he is in.

 

[Hawkeye]

You seem to have double standards with people of your dislike. Shaan, a hardworking cricketer goes to foreign coaching on his own dime to work on himself and then comes back by scoring a plethora of runs in the domestic, yet you want him out by calling him a fluke.

On the other hand, you continue to support the brainless Umar Akmal who can barely even fluke it in domestics with his record-setting potbelly, let alone score in international cricket.

It's based on abilities, skills, type of format and the batting position. Umar Akmal is not a Test opener. You're intentionally trying to compare two things where there's no comparison.

Shan Masood cannot play pace, lateral movement (swing/seam), or spin. At all. He has excellent English. Will you play such a Test opener in your national team, because he's good at giving interviews?

I'm afraid, your emotions are getting the better of you.

Umar Akmal, on the other hand, is someone who is comfortable against pace and can take on bowling attacks in the limited overs format, in the middle/late order. The type you need for World T20 in Australia. Because we don't have alternatives, that's why he is suggested, even though he's not reliable.

If you choose to ignore these realities and scream "favoritism!", then you can choose to believe whatever you want.

 

[IAJ]

Unfortunately, the only misfit appears to be you.

While Shan has good English and communication skills, he lacks the skills actually required for the job: being able to bat.

It pains me to see how he's in the national team, with his very limited skillset, inability to handle international class bowlers. With him, our top order will always be exposed to the new ball.

Some people are easily fooled by fluke knocks. Everyone will be calling for his head after ~5 Test matches.

Don’t know what you are talking about. He is much improved player and along with Babar probably Pakistan’s best player against short pitched bowling, so you really need him in SENA.

 

[Titan24]

This might be the career defining series for Shan Masood as he is 30 years old and currently averages 26 after 15 tests. Next two tests are really important for his career as 4 poor innings from here can take his average down to a number and that too after 18 matches (Not many players get these many opportunities) where it wont be justifiable to select him anymore in tests.

I hope he does well otherwise other openers like Sami Aslam, Abid Ali, Imam and with time Zeeshan Malik, Haider Ali or Omair Yousuf deserve the chances.

18 tests will already be more than enough to prove himself and that too after considering that other openers also have a superior record than Shan in FC.

 

[Hawkeye]

Don’t know what you are talking about. He is much improved player and along with Babar probably Pakistan’s best player against short pitched bowling, so you really need him in SENA.

You're not quite right. He's unable to play pace, movement, spin.

It appears you need to be reminded that he averages 26 after 15 Test matches.

And, he hasn't shown any ability or promise that he can turn it around, which is a huge task even for the most gifted players.

He does have the ability to give great interviews. Is that the criteria to judge a Test opener now?

This might be the career defining series for Shan Masood as he is 30 years old and currently averages 26 after 15 tests. Next two tests are really important for his career as 4 poor innings from here can take his average down to a number and that too after 18 matches (Not many players get these many opportunities) where it wont be justifiable to select him anymore in tests.

I hope he does well otherwise other openers like Sami Aslam, Abid Ali, Imam and with time Zeeshan Malik, Haider Ali or Omair Yousuf deserve the chances.

18 tests will already be more than enough to prove himself and that too after considering that other openers also have a superior record than Shan in FC.

I'm afraid, the criteria if a player will be "liked" by PPers is, if he can give great interviews and speak fancy English.

It doesn't seem to matter you average 26 after 15 Tests, and don't have the ability to place pace, swing, seam, and spin.

But, that doesn't matter, as long as you give great interviews and are able to fluke some 40s and 50s.

 

[Shazzam]

This interview was very good. Nicely said words.

 

[Abdullah719]

You're not quite right. He's unable to play pace, movement, spin.

You keep repeating the same thing, but that doesn't make it true.

Shan's problem is not with pace itself. He had a variety of technical issues previously, many of which he rectified. The most glaring one was his crouching stance, which he had amended when the SA series came around. Thus, he was able to play the SA pacers with ease off the back-foot, which no one else besides Babar was able to do. With his technical modifications, he generally looks pretty comfortable off the back-foot, but his front-foot game is still under scrutiny. He does sometimes push at the ball outside off, and he may be vulnerable to LBWs against the in-swinging ball.

To summarise, pace isn't the issue but lateral movement may cause him a problem or two. The biggest concern with Shan is also that until the A series last year, he wasn't really a scorer of big runs at the FC level. He has to start scoring big runs soon and cut out the lapses after getting starts, otherwise he won't last long.

 

[Boiz Played Well]

I’m just glad to know they’re in a positive mindset and that Australian A game gave them confidence. Win or lose, they’ll actually put up a fight this time round. Which has been rare post World Cup streak.

 

[Hawkeye]

[MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION], if that isn't true, then how come he averages 26 after 15 Tests?

And you'll see more demo of it in the upcoming series.

 

[world cup captain]

It's based on abilities, skills, type of format and the batting position. Umar Akmal is not a Test opener. You're intentionally trying to compare two things where there's no comparison.

Shan Masood cannot play pace, lateral movement (swing/seam), or spin. At all. He has excellent English. Will you play such a Test opener in your national team, because he's good at giving interviews?

I'm afraid, your emotions are getting the better of you.

Umar Akmal, on the other hand, is someone who is comfortable against pace and can take on bowling attacks in the limited overs format, in the middle/late order. The type you need for World T20 in Australia. Because we don't have alternatives, that's why he is suggested, even though he's not reliable.

If you choose to ignore these realities and scream "favoritism!", then you can choose to believe whatever you want.

You're continuing to live in the past with Shan's career and in denial about Akmal's failure as a cricketer. Shan handled pace with quite an ease in the SA series rejecting your claim about his inability to play pace along the Srilanka series in 15'(?) where he negotiated Herath on a 5th-day pitch. His only issue is swing which every Pak player besides Babar struggles against.

Akmal may have the ability to play pace but has the mental capacity of a snail, if that. What good is that ability if he is going to blindly slog? You discard a "player" like Akmal since there's zero possibility of improvement in him game sense.

 

[Hasan123]

[MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION], if that isn't true, then how come he averages 26 after 15 Tests?

And you'll see more demo of it in the upcoming series.

You backed Hafeez who was awful against seam and swing lol.

 

[Boi]

Shan is a top guy. If there’s ever a cricketer you really want to see succeed it’s him. If only only much more ‘talented’ players had the work ethic and dedication this guy has.

 

[aloo paratha]

[MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION], if that isn't true, then how come he averages 26 after 15 Tests?

And you'll see more demo of it in the upcoming series.

You realize that he debuted in tests 6 years ago, and the bulk of the matches he played between 2013-2015? Do you also realize a player can improve their game?

There's no point in you repeating his test average again and again.

 

[Markhor]

This is a problem with today's dressing room - nobody challenges each other and strives to achieve better.

Instead they seem content with themselves and content to hold hands and play nicey nicey. No wonder we are where we're ranked.

 

[ahmadharis1]

One of the few pakistani players who seems to actually want to improve

 

[Hawkeye]

You backed Hafeez who was awful against seam and swing lol.

No, not in Tests. He has had a role to play in T20s and ODIs, where his timing is good against the pacers and can take them apart.

I look for very specific abilities in a player, based on the format, and back those.

 

[Saj]

One of the few pakistani players who seems to actually want to improve

Very good attitude, really hard trainer, physically very fit. Just needs to tighten up his footwork and a couple of technical issues.

 

[Captain caveman]

Very good attitude, really hard trainer, physically very fit. Just needs to tighten up his footwork and a couple of technical issues.

Should of been given the test team captaincy, until babar was ready in 2/3 years time.
I really like shan's attitude and work ethic!

 

[chacha kashmiri]

He’s right

Pakistan’s main problem hasn’t been scoring on Australian tracks
It’s been losing from winning situations

 

[Junaids]

He’s right

Pakistan’s main problem hasn’t been scoring on Australian tracks
It’s been losing from winning situations

And at least once in circumstances which go far beyond suspicious.

If you believe that Amir, Asif and Butt were spotfixers, then you have no option whatsoever but to accept that Pakistan lost the 2009-2010 Sydney Test due to deliverate matchfixing.

You can't have it both ways. Either the three were spotfixers and Sydney was thrown, or they are all innocent.

Why do I say this?

Because the same News of the World video in which fixing kingpin Mazhar Majeed disclosed the Amir/Asif/Butt fix also featured him admitting on tape that he had fixed the Sydney Test and that the team had been paid $1.4 million to do so.

Source: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/spor...be8cd179e?sv=356ae3bc540709715b54ec9852145374

This was corroborated by Mohammad Asif's girlfriend at the time.

Source: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...ted-over-money-laundering-20100901-14g8g.html

Nobody talks about this because it is implicit in his comments that the fixing went through all or most of the entire squad. And several of the players from that squad remain active in cricket - including Misbah, Sarfraz, Umar and Kamran Akmal and Fawad Alam. We have no way of knowing whether or not any given player was part of the Sydney fix, and people are innocent until proven guilty.

All I will say is this.

I fully accept the guilt of Amir, Asif and Butt and therefore automatically I have to accept that the Sydney Test was thrown by Pakistan. I don't know which Pakistan players threw that Test, so I cannot categorically condemn or clear any members of that squad.

It's important that we don't accuse any specific players of wrongdoing.

But we have a responsibility to report all of Mazhar Majeed's confessions, not just the Amir/Asif/Butt one. If we don't, we effectively perpetrate a cover-up of crimes which have already been confessed.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

And at least once in circumstances which go far beyond suspicious.

If you believe that Amir, Asif and Butt were spotfixers, then you have no option whatsoever but to accept that Pakistan lost the 2009-2010 Sydney Test due to deliverate matchfixing.

You can't have it both ways. Either the three were spotfixers and Sydney was thrown, or they are all innocent.

Why do I say this?

Because the same News of the World video in which fixing kingpin Mazhar Majeed disclosed the Amir/Asif/Butt fix also featured him admitting on tape that he had fixed the Sydney Test and that the team had been paid $1.4 million to do so.

Source: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/spor...be8cd179e?sv=356ae3bc540709715b54ec9852145374

This was corroborated by Mohammad Asif's girlfriend at the time.

Source: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...ted-over-money-laundering-20100901-14g8g.html

Nobody talks about this because it is implicit in his comments that the fixing went through all or most of the entire squad. And several of the players from that squad remain active in cricket - including Misbah, Sarfraz, Umar and Kamran Akmal and Fawad Alam. We have no way of knowing whether or not any given player was part of the Sydney fix, and people are innocent until proven guilty.

All I will say is this.

I fully accept the guilt of Amir, Asif and Butt and therefore automatically I have to accept that the Sydney Test was thrown by Pakistan. I don't know which Pakistan players threw that Test, so I cannot categorically condemn or clear any members of that squad.

It's important that we don't accuse any specific players of wrongdoing.

But we have a responsibility to report all of Mazhar Majeed's confessions, not just the Amir/Asif/Butt one. If we don't, we effectively perpetrate a cover-up of crimes which have already been confessed.

There’s been lots of allegations in recent years
The reports by al jazerra went unreported in recent times

And obviously there were outlandish comments by ejaz butt
And we can trace out even further to basit Ali and Rashid latif if we want to

Shoaib akhtars recent remarks and Umar Akmal left a lot to the imagination too
And there’s the big question mark over shahid Afridis resignation of the test captaincy

 

[Savak]

To hell with the dressing room environment, i don't care if everyone is at each others throats as long as they win games for their country

 

[Relic]

To hell with the dressing room environment, i don't care if everyone is at each others throats as long as they win games for their country

No one has won a test match in the Gabba against Aus since 1989 iirc

How can you possibly expect Pakistan to win??
If they do then they will deserve all the praise in the world.

 

[MMHS]

[MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION], if that isn't true, then how come he averages 26 after 15 Tests?

And you'll see more demo of it in the upcoming series.

Shan has improved considerably in last couple of years, which was clearly evident in his comfort of facing SAF pacers in last tour. He is a late bloomers, therefore his overall stats will need longer time to be fixed. Even in his early struggling years, guy played couple of gems, 75 on debut against Styen & Phi at their prime and his 125 on 4th innings chase was truly a class innings. It suggests, guy had ability, now he needs to be more consistent.

At this moment, it’s really difficult to justify Azhar’s spot in playing XI; but being a senior player with brilliant records in Australia, he deserved to be in squad. The blunder they made was to appoint him Captain - equally damaging like appointing 38 years old Misbah as ODI captain, when PCB had 2.5 years to groom next Captain for 2015 WC.

Player like Shan is always an asset in squad - hard working, educated, great communicator, extremely fit, and hungry to be successful. But, I am not sure, if he ticks all the boxes for Captaincy - for that he has to average between 35-38 at least (means, his contemporary average has to go above 40).

 

[Hawkeye]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION]

I'm not sold on his 'improvements'. He didn't make a single ton in SA, barely crossed 50 twice, in a scratchy manner. And has looked nervous so far in AUS side games as well.

He's not yet a late bloomer, because he hasn't bloomed yet - you can't call him that, guy hasn't scored anything above 50-60 in any single match in the last 2-3 years (where he has supposedly improved). So... what bloom?

You'd pretty much see what he's capable of this tour. If he can score 2 tons, certainly a late 'bloomer'.

 

[MMHS]

And at least once in circumstances which go far beyond suspicious.

If you believe that Amir, Asif and Butt were spotfixers, then you have no option whatsoever but to accept that Pakistan lost the 2009-2010 Sydney Test due to deliverate matchfixing.

You can't have it both ways. Either the three were spotfixers and Sydney was thrown, or they are all innocent.

Why do I say this?

Because the same News of the World video in which fixing kingpin Mazhar Majeed disclosed the Amir/Asif/Butt fix also featured him admitting on tape that he had fixed the Sydney Test and that the team had been paid $1.4 million to do so.

Source: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/spor...be8cd179e?sv=356ae3bc540709715b54ec9852145374

This was corroborated by Mohammad Asif's girlfriend at the time.

Source: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...ted-over-money-laundering-20100901-14g8g.html

Nobody talks about this because it is implicit in his comments that the fixing went through all or most of the entire squad. And several of the players from that squad remain active in cricket - including Misbah, Sarfraz, Umar and Kamran Akmal and Fawad Alam. We have no way of knowing whether or not any given player was part of the Sydney fix, and people are innocent until proven guilty.

All I will say is this.

I fully accept the guilt of Amir, Asif and Butt and therefore automatically I have to accept that the Sydney Test was thrown by Pakistan. I don't know which Pakistan players threw that Test, so I cannot categorically condemn or clear any members of that squad.

It's important that we don't accuse any specific players of wrongdoing.

But we have a responsibility to report all of Mazhar Majeed's confessions, not just the Amir/Asif/Butt one. If we don't, we effectively perpetrate a cover-up of crimes which have already been confessed.

Quite interesting- the best two performers in that game for PAK were Asif & Butt!!!! Another interesting fact is, Mo Amir didn’t play that Test!!!!

I found the biggest culprit in that Test to me MoYo - clueless on 5th morning to post Auiies a fighting total and before that did the killer damage in first innings - got himself out trying to play an atrocious shot, just before 2nd ball, when PAK was full lap ahead : 237-3 with MoYo on 46 and playing like king. And, that was the last ball of the over - this is what CI writes:

“74.6 short and rising delivery angled across, Yousuf falls for it and looking to guide it down through the slips, gets the edge to the right of Haddin, who dives in the air and takes a wonderful catch right in the palm, excellent take and Yousuf is angry as he left the field. 237/4”

If that game was fixed, I’ll blame only one guy - MoYo, no one else.

 

[MMHS]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION]

I'm not sold on his 'improvements'. He didn't make a single ton in SA, barely crossed 50 twice, in a scratchy manner. And has looked nervous so far in AUS side games as well.

He's not yet a late bloomer, because he hasn't bloomed yet - you can't call him that, guy hasn't scored anything above 50-60 in any single match in the last 2-3 years (where he has supposedly improved). So... what bloom?

You'd pretty much see what he's capable of this tour. If he can score 2 tons, certainly a late 'bloomer'.

May not be in international level, but guy has piled up runs in domestics and A tours in List A cricket; which suggests he has improved. Conversion actually is a problem for every team these days apart from India and Australia- more so for PAK, even Babar has one in like 40 innings. Overall, I think he is border line automatic choice, but he has to make this series count to erase that border line, for sure. Otherwise, at his 30+, it’s better to invest behind Sami & Imam.

 

[Pete Rose]

This is a problem with today's dressing room - nobody challenges each other and strives to achieve better.

Instead they seem content with themselves and content to hold hands and play nicey nicey. No wonder we are where we're ranked.

Yeah, I think this ‘today’ is about a 15 year period. The steam lacks snarl - not Azhar or Asad certainly. I hope we get in to a bust up on day one.

 

[angrypathan]

Quite interesting- the best two performers in that game for PAK were Asif & Butt!!!! Another interesting fact is, Mo Amir didn’t play that Test!!!!

I found the biggest culprit in that Test to me MoYo - clueless on 5th morning to post Auiies a fighting total and before that did the killer damage in first innings - got himself out trying to play an atrocious shot, just before 2nd ball, when PAK was full lap ahead : 237-3 with MoYo on 46 and playing like king. And, that was the last ball of the over - this is what CI writes:

“74.6 short and rising delivery angled across, Yousuf falls for it and looking to guide it down through the slips, gets the edge to the right of Haddin, who dives in the air and takes a wonderful catch right in the palm, excellent take and Yousuf is angry as he left the field. 237/4”

If that game was fixed, I’ll blame only one guy - MoYo, no one else.

Some rather interesting conversations I've had with a member of the team management on that particular tour suggested that MoYo was not the one setting the defensive fields on the 5th morning.

 

[Abdullah]

Don’t know what you are talking about. He is much improved player and along with Babar probably Pakistan’s best player against short pitched bowling, so you really need him in SENA.

I think the dude didn't actually watch any cricket during the SA tour. Let's hope shaan continues to bat the way he batted there

 

[arunpsm]

I think the dude didn't actually watch any cricket during the SA tour. Let's hope shaan continues to bat the way he batted there

Shan was the highest run getter in that 3 match test series for PAK and if iirc was next best to Babar in terms of strokeplay. Wish him good luck in this series.

 

[Danyaalr01]

Shan Masood is probably one of the hardest working players in Pakistan right now. He has improved a huge amount since he made his debut. He is by no means as naturally talented as many other players like Haris Sohail, but his hard work makes up for it.

There have been a few people who have said that have said that his selection in the first place was a bit dodgy and maybe down to nepotism, but he has really impressed them with his attitude to the game and his hard work.

 

[Hasan123]

No, not in Tests. He has had a role to play in T20s and ODIs, where his timing is good against the pacers and can take them apart.

I look for very specific abilities in a player, based on the format, and back those.

Well your backing the wrong horse. A strike rate of 76 after over 200 games is a embarrassing.

He takes averages bowlers and spinners apart. Nothing to do banghra over. Also other than CT final he fails in most big games and ICC tournaments.

Your not backing anyone special. You call others out for backing average players when you back a player who is average no matter which way you spin it.