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[VIDEOS] Shan Masood's average watch - when will he improve his stats?

First, I don't understand the infatuation with Shan's performance in SA. He had a very mediocre series, he had 228 runs in 6 innings at an average of 38, no centuries. That is not something to be very proud off, and given the rest of his career, it clear that he isn't good enough for test cricket.

Second, this seems to be another case of right player wrong format. This guy has a FC average of 34 vs List A average of 54 - how in the world has he player 32 test innings and only 5 ODI innings. This is absurd!

Pak selectors seem to randomly decide what format to put a player in. There is no intelligent thought here
 
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I agree with [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]’s basic premise that you can have two players who have reached the age of 30 in your side.

So you ask yourself, which positions are you most starved of talent in.

Shan Masood is mediocre but works hard and has leadership skills.

But more importantly, he is better than Imam and better than the geriatric version of Azhar Ali.

So you can pick him with Sami Aslam, even as the temporary stopgap captain.

But in picking Masood you have to drop everyone else over the age of 30 except for one single player.
 
Hits 50 today against a world class attack.
It is ok to be mediocre but if that individual is ready to work hard then there can be excellent returns.
Talent can't get you very far without hard work.
 
Very soft dismissal

But for once he was playing positively and trying to move the game rather than being selfish and trying to not get out. And no surprise his best inning of the tour.

He should realize that saving his wicket won’t get him a career because even if you survive 100 balls and score 20 means you have a poor outing. Need to be more positive in batting and score when you get opportunities rather than take defensive route and block.
 
Junaids said:
I agree with [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]’s basic premise that you can have two players who have reached the age of 30 in your side.

So you ask yourself, which positions are you most starved of talent in.

Shan Masood is mediocre but works hard and has leadership skills.

But more importantly, he is better than Imam and better than the geriatric version of Azhar Ali.

So you can pick him with Sami Aslam, even as the temporary stopgap captain.

But in picking Masood you have to drop everyone else over the age of 30 except for one single player.
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This is completely illogical.
 
Slog said:
Very soft dismissal

But for once he was playing positively and trying to move the game rather than being selfish and trying to not get out. And no surprise his best inning of the tour.

He should realize that saving his wicket won’t get him a career because even if you survive 100 balls and score 20 means you have a poor outing. Need to be more positive in batting and score when you get opportunities rather than take defensive route and block.
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When Shaan plays well he scores 60. That’s not good enough. That said, it all goes back to domestic cricket.

Shaan has never had a dominant first class season. He has never scored big runs on a lower level. To then expect him to reverse under pressure against higher quality bowling is virtually impossible.
 
unemployedgm said:
This is completely illogical.
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No it’s not.

I’m saying, like [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] , that you can pick two players over 29 and 1 player under 20.

That’s how you build a team and minimise transition periods.

It’s a basic fact that Pakistan has nobody with any leadership skills apart from Shan Masood and that he is the second best batsman for a Top Three position behind Sami Aslam.

So you can pick Shan Masood. But then you only get to choose one other overage player. Not, like Misbah, six additional overage players plus two underage kids.
 
He is crap, always has been, just doesn’t have the ability and his record after 17 years should show that. Sadly he is bought himself another tour

I’d much rather invest in a 7 year younger Sami Aslam. He is probably the best that we have
 
Junaids said:
No it’s not.

I’m saying, like [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] , that you can pick two players over 29 and 1 player under 20.

That’s how you build a team and minimise transition periods.

It’s a basic fact that Pakistan has nobody with any leadership skills apart from Shan Masood and that he is the second best batsman for a Top Three position behind Sami Aslam.

So you can pick Shan Masood. But then you only get to choose one other overage player. Not, like Misbah, six additional overage players plus two underage kids.
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Apart from being tall, presentable, and well spoken, has Shaan demonstrated the qualities of a good captain. Please provide evidence of Leadership.
 
Shan is a victim of over thinking, he was playing well, he should have gone whole heartedly for that shot and he would have cleared that fielder but instead he tried to be cute and hit the ball at 60-70% of his ability thinking he would clear him.
 
Soft dismissal after making 71.

<iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/16jgr/yawqyq" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Very good batsman who has no idea how to pace a Test match innings.
 
pakistanigoneaussie said:
He is crap, always has been, just doesn’t have the ability and his record after 17 years should show that. Sadly he is bought himself another tour

I’d much rather invest in a 7 year younger Sami Aslam. He is probably the best that we have
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I agree about Sami but you need a second opener.

And considering that there are whispers of Misbah making either Salman Butt or Fawad Alam into the Captain, Shan Masood would be a much better option.
 
Some feedback from Ponting.

<iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/g1i1s/qhcmsu" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Shan is definitely a much improved player on the test arena. He’s had two tough tours and has performed reasonably well. Which is a credit to him.

He’s no world beater but he averaged 38 against South Africa and 39
Against Australia both away tours .

People talk about his career average , but since his return he is averaging nearly 40. Really need to cut him some slack . He deserves a decent run in the team .
 
JibranAnsari said:
Failed on flat phattas of Australia.
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He scored more runs alone than the total test runs other openers like Sami Aslam and Imam ul Haq made in Australia combined!

Figure that one?

Shan Masood faced the worlds best pace bowling attack on their soil, he's the best equipped in the team to do this. It is a sad state of affairs, but mediocre or not, there is no better opener than Shan Massod currently.
 
He will probably get a last chance against Sri Lanka in Pakistan but his place is definitely under threat. Sami Aslam and Abid Ali are likely to be included in the next test series.
 
Has done just enough to get the SL series but he really needs to cash in there. If he doesn’t get a big score in that series then he should be dumped.
 
Shan is doing fine in terms of fighting it out and surviving new ball, playing some good shots as well, but since Pak keep losing lots of wicket early on he cannot Express himself and playing with freedom and without pressure. Once he has a reliable no 2 and 3 batsmen with him he will score big.
 
Shaan is the best we have. Its hard to play a long inning when wickets are falling on the other end. Also if one can score runs against the best fast bowlers , including Aussies and South African in their own backyard he has to be good.
 
Doing better than Azhar & Imam, but ofcourse [MENTION=134608]Hawkeye[/MENTION] has no problem with them...
 
Shan is hard working guy ..but the problem is he isnt learning..time is running out..this tour he should have seen warners innings etc how he rotates strikes looking for runs..shaan is limited unless its the misbah effect i noticed all series he was just block block block...even on the flat tracks here you are eventually going to nick one...
 
To me, he is the next Test captain of Pakistan.
 
He should be dropped. No point sticking with mediocre and impact-less players.
 
MenInG said:
To me, he is the next Test captain of Pakistan.
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Would love to see him improve his bowling and come 1 down. Seems to have some grit about him. The next major tour is in uk. If he could contribute a little with some dibbly dobbly seamers he’s actually be very useful. Even ponting was handy with his bowling sometimes.
 
Mickey Arthur on Shan

"I have watched Shan closely and he's improving, I'd love to see him kick on and get a big score. He's got starts, he got some in SA on tough pitches and he got some here. He's going to have to convert one of these into a big score, I've got a feeling once he does it, he'll repeat it often"
 
Just for people to look at the stats *again!* - Runs and averages in the last 5 test matches since Shan's come back . . 3 in SA and 2 in Aus . .

1.) Babar Azam - 5 Matches - 431 Runs - Avg 43.1
2.) Shan Masood - 5 Matches - 384 Runs - Avg 38.4
3.) Asad Shafiq - 5 Matches - 328 Runs - Avg 32.8
4.) Yasir Shah - 4 Matches - 113 Runs - Avg 26
5.) Imam ul Haq - 4 Matches - 151 Runs - Avg 18.9
6.) Sarfaraz Ahmad - 3 Matches - 112 Runs - Avg 18.7
7.) Azhar Ali - 5 Matches - 121 Runs - Avg 12.1

For 3 or more test matches, Shan Masood has the second best average! and the second highest runs! But yes . . let's castigate Shan Masood on his ability and performances . .

The fallacy is that Shan is being judged on his technique, and issues prior to his come back, which everyone acknowledges he has improved massively upon . .

Upon returning, he has been the 2nd best bat in the team and FAR from the biggest problem!! In fact, I'd question if you say he is even a problem AT ALL in this current team . .

Let's be objective!

If you want to bring Sami or somebody else in in . . look at what the other openers are doing . . Imam averages 25 after 11 test matches . . thats a good sample size . . azhar has opened . . look at what he has done! Fakhar opened . . look at what he did! Haris batted 3 . . look at how out of place he looked! Who else opened or batted at 3?

And someone argued above that he failed on Australian "Phattas" . . Again . . what have the rest done? he is the 2nd highest scorer with the 2nd highest average in this current team!

I am not saying he is the best batsman in pakistan . . neither am I saying he should absolutely be in the team! All I am saying is look at it in context! He has opened the batting in 4 out of 5 test matches and arguably thats the most difficult time to bat against 2 quality attacks in their home grounds! He has done better than everyone else other than Babar Azam . . He is hardly a problem!
 
MenInG said:
To me, he is the next Test captain of Pakistan.
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Needs a big series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. But if the appoint him they have to back him given that we are going to play three tests in England next year and he had a torrid time there in 2016. I know he has improved leaps and bounds but still should expect set backs.
To be honest, I wouldn’t mind if changed the captaincy now, but this is how it is with Pakistan. They take a guy averaging 25 for the last two years and make him captain. Would be ideal if we can bench shafiq and Azhar and use the home series to bring in abid and Sami both as openers and Shan moves one down.
 
shortbread said:
He scored more runs alone than the total test runs other openers like Sami Aslam and Imam ul Haq made in Australia combined!

Figure that one?

Shan Masood faced the worlds best pace bowling attack on their soil, he's the best equipped in the team to do this. It is a sad state of affairs, but mediocre or not, there is no better opener than Shan Massod currently.
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Sami aslam still has better twst average than him and is at least 5 years younger than him , shan masood isnt even a domestic bully. The best he can do is score an odd 50 here and there. His average tells his story , both in domestic and in internationals.
 
His inability to convert starts and throw away his wicket most of the time are a concern.

He probably deserves the next series on the basis of his performances in two of the toughest places. But, he really needs to go get a big hundred.
 
Sores a duck.

Brilliant!

There's a reason he averages 16 on flat batting decks of the UAE!
 
He was class apart in South Africa. PCB must keep its faith in young Maqsood
 
What a waste of a player. can't believe he still gets to open the innings for Pakistan. Sami Aslam is 100 times better than him.

Are we content with someone who just gets some starts and then gets out while the other players are scoring daddy hundreds. Time to get get rid of this parchi.
 
jazbati said:
What a waste of a player. can't believe he still gets to open the innings for Pakistan. Sami Aslam is 100 times better than him.

Are we content with someone who just gets some starts and then gets out while the other players are scoring daddy hundreds. Time to get get rid of this parchi.
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Sami needs to come in his place from the next series.

Enough of this mediocrity. Just because he speaks English we can't drop him. Ugh.
 
I remember another Pakistani opening batsman many years ago, he scored 2 centuries from 50 odd test matches and even went on to become captain of the Pakistan cricket team - incidentally he also speaks very good English.
 
Abid doing well today adds the pressure on him also.

Imam, Imran Butt, Sami Aslam all possible alternatives.
 
Majid Khan said:
I remember another Pakistani opening batsman many years ago, he scored 2 centuries from 50 odd test matches and even went on to become captain of the Pakistan cricket team - incidentally he also speaks very good English.
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in Pakistan mediocre cricketers are given more respect than they deserve.
 
Can't believe people rate this guy after one fluke series. He's a complete joke.
 
Give him the next game, and the Bangladesh series. If he fails, then discard him but not now.
 
Pakpak said:
Can't believe people rate this guy after one fluke series. He's a complete joke.
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He's been getting away with his crappy performances for some time anybody else would've dropped him after his 5th test. Fact he has only one 100 just shows he's garbage. Imran Butt can possibly be trialed, I'm on the fence with Sami Aslam due to his controversial decision to not chase a target of 83 in 10 overs.
 
NauV said:
Just for people to look at the stats *again!* - Runs and averages in the last 5 test matches since Shan's come back . . 3 in SA and 2 in Aus . .

1.) Babar Azam - 5 Matches - 431 Runs - Avg 43.1
2.) Shan Masood - 5 Matches - 384 Runs - Avg 38.4
3.) Asad Shafiq - 5 Matches - 328 Runs - Avg 32.8
4.) Yasir Shah - 4 Matches - 113 Runs - Avg 26
5.) Imam ul Haq - 4 Matches - 151 Runs - Avg 18.9
6.) Sarfaraz Ahmad - 3 Matches - 112 Runs - Avg 18.7
7.) Azhar Ali - 5 Matches - 121 Runs - Avg 12.1

For 3 or more test matches, Shan Masood has the second best average! and the second highest runs! But yes . . let's castigate Shan Masood on his ability and performances . .

The fallacy is that Shan is being judged on his technique, and issues prior to his come back, which everyone acknowledges he has improved massively upon . .

Upon returning, he has been the 2nd best bat in the team and FAR from the biggest problem!! In fact, I'd question if you say he is even a problem AT ALL in this current team . .

Let's be objective!

If you want to bring Sami or somebody else in in . . look at what the other openers are doing . . Imam averages 25 after 11 test matches . . thats a good sample size . . azhar has opened . . look at what he has done! Fakhar opened . . look at what he did! Haris batted 3 . . look at how out of place he looked! Who else opened or batted at 3?

And someone argued above that he failed on Australian "Phattas" . . Again . . what have the rest done? he is the 2nd highest scorer with the 2nd highest average in this current team!

I am not saying he is the best batsman in pakistan . . neither am I saying he should absolutely be in the team! All I am saying is look at it in context! He has opened the batting in 4 out of 5 test matches and arguably thats the most difficult time to bat against 2 quality attacks in their home grounds! He has done better than everyone else other than Babar Azam . . He is hardly a problem!
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Fact is Shan is overall a failure how he was selected for the SA series was beyond me but fact is an average of 38 is no good. I'm not gonna knock him for the Aussie series everybody struggled but overall he's not been amazing even though he's had some success. Pakistan can't be scared to pull the trigger and he's one that has to go, possibly be replaced by Imran Butt in my opinion or Sami Aslam (needs investigating for that game in which he didn't chase 83 runs in 10 overs).
 
Majid Khan said:
I remember another Pakistani opening batsman many years ago, he scored 2 centuries from 50 odd test matches and even went on to become captain of the Pakistan cricket team - incidentally he also speaks very good English.
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Who?
 
After his Australia and SA performance, Shaan is still our 2nd best batsman after Babar, too early to give that honor to Abid Ali.
 
He was Pakistan's 2nd best batsman in SA+Aus
Should be backed atleast till the Eng tour

There are others who have performed worse
 
MRSN said:
in Pakistan mediocre cricketers are given more respect than they deserve.
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Well at least in that era, we had some of the greatest sides in our history. Now we are just truly mediocre.
 
I would like to see another opener in place of Shan. He has been given enough time and has not gotten the scores.

Imam, Imran Butt, or Sami Aslam should be given a run. We have options in the opening positions who can grow with experience. Their is no point in wasting time on someone who isn't good enough.
 
Majid Khan said:
I remember another Pakistani opening batsman many years ago, he scored 2 centuries from 50 odd test matches and even went on to become captain of the Pakistan cricket team - incidentally he also speaks very good English.
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Well he thinks he speaks very good English.

My money is on Shan also ending up in the commentary box.
 
Ahson8 said:
Give him the next game, and the Bangladesh series. If he fails, then discard him but not now.
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Agreed. That's what sensible selectors would do. Give people a run. He has played 6 tests and deserves a few more.
Then we can move in if it isn't happening
 
Hawkeye said:
:))) :))) :)))

Never would have guessed that!

No wonder we go all gaga over those who can speak English, even if they're supremely mediocre like Shan Masood!
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Some of us keep asking to drop this batsman and that batsman, like we have Gavaskar, Gooch, Greenidge and Warner in waiting in our FC circuit. Shaan is not an extremely talented opener but we have invested enough on him and he is showing good results particularly in overseas games. There are others much older and useless batsmen and they are liability in the field who should be discarded before Shaan. Infact, if Shaan continue to show some progress and hit a couple of centuries in coming matches, he should be made captain of our test team .
 
Nothing player but a 'polished' person and that's the only reason he's been given such a long rope.

There are such insecurities in the PCB that anytime you get a well spoken, presentable player (Butt, Azhar, Misbah, Shan...) they get a significantly longer rope than others.

If I were a young cricketer in Pakistan, I would invest in an english language teacher and an etiquette coach, just as much as I would in improving my game.
 
Might be too early but this team needs a Fawad Alam. So I would drop Shan and open with Azhar.

Still credit to Shan for making a pretty decent comeback in SA. He worked very hard for it. But needs to understand that only tuk tuking won't get him anywhere.
 
Think this series will make or break Shans test career. Needs to get some big runs in the next test.
 
If he doesn't perform well on next test then he should be there only on overseas tours but don't pick him on Asian conditions.
 
Hawkeye said:
:))) :))) :)))

Never would have guessed that!

No wonder we go all gaga over those who can speak English, even if they're supremely mediocre like Shan Masood!
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My friend, it's this simple.

1. Shan Masood is almost 5 years younger than Azhar Ali.
2. In the last 2.5 years since Younis and Misbah retired:
a) Shan Masood averages 5.83 more runs per innings than Azhar Ali (32.46 to Azhar's 26.63).
b) Shan Masood averages 26.28 more runs per innings outside Asia than Azhar Ali (38.40 compared with 12.12).

We can talk about dropping Shan Masood, but that conversation can only start 8 Tests after Azhar Ali is dropped.

AZHAR ALI AWAY since MisYou retired: 8 Tests, 194 runs at 12.12.
SHAN MASOOD AWAY since MisYou retired: 5 Tests, 384 runs at 38.40.
 
[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] brother those are twisted and incomplete stats, lacking context.

Even if you take them at their face value, it indicates Shan Masoods mediocrity that even at his supposed best he's never able to score over 50, let alone a century.

He's that limited and bad.

Azhar's form is in a slump and you're comparing with his worst time, Shan's best time. Even then there isn't a huge difference. You conveniently forget that Azhar Ali still averages over 40 and that shows his wonderful contributions he's had over the years. Including a double ton in Aus.

Shan Masood simply is nowhere close to that level. He can never do what Azhar or even Shafiq did. This is his best, averaging 26-30.
 
Hawkeye said:
[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] brother those are twisted and incomplete stats, lacking context.

Even if you take them at their face value, it indicates Shan Masoods mediocrity that even at his supposed best he's never able to score over 50, let alone a century.

He's that limited and bad.

Azhar's form is in a slump and you're comparing with his worst time, Shan's best time. Even then there isn't a huge difference. You conveniently forget that Azhar Ali still averages over 40 and that shows his wonderful contributions he's had over the years. Including a double ton in Aus.

Shan Masood simply is nowhere close to that level. He can never do what Azhar or even Shafiq did. This is his best, averaging 26-30.
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To me, a form slump comes in two possible varieties.

There is a form slump from which you can recover - this happens to men under the age of 30.

And there is permanent irreversible decline, which is any form slump after the age of 30 which doesn’t correct itself within two series.

Azhar Ali’s form slump is the second type - permanent and irreversible.

There are countless threads on PakPassion in which I called Shan Masood a hopeless mediocrity, like you do now. But he has worked hard and turned himself into a Nick Compton or an Ed Cowan - a limited batsman who can average 35 to 40.

Is that ideal? No, of course not.

Is that as good as Azhar Ali was at the same age? No, of course not.

But that Azhar Ali no longer exists. Father Time has robbed him of the ability to score runs except against weak attacks on docile wickets.

And the sad fact is that Shan Masood in 2018 was already as good as what was left of Azhar Ali, in 2019 he is considerably superior to Azhar Ali and the gulf is just getting wider and wider.
 
Junaids said:
To me, a form slump comes in two possible varieties.

There is a form slump from which you can recover - this happens to men under the age of 30.

And there is permanent irreversible decline, which is any form slump after the age of 30 which doesn’t correct itself within two series.

Azhar Ali’s form slump is the second type - permanent and irreversible.

There are countless threads on PakPassion in which I called Shan Masood a hopeless mediocrity, like you do now. But he has worked hard and turned himself into a Nick Compton or an Ed Cowan - a limited batsman who can average 35 to 40.

Is that ideal? No, of course not.

Is that as good as Azhar Ali was at the same age? No, of course not.

But that Azhar Ali no longer exists. Father Time has robbed him of the ability to score runs except against weak attacks on docile wickets.

And the sad fact is that Shan Masood in 2018 was already as good as what was left of Azhar Ali, in 2019 he is considerably superior to Azhar Ali and the gulf is just getting wider and wider.
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I worry for Pakistan cricket should Azhar score heavily in the next test.

And by heavily, I mean anything over 40.
 
Bullet Drive said:
I worry for Pakistan cricket should Azhar score heavily in the next test.

And by heavily, I mean anything over 40.
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Alex tudor once scored 99* as a nightwatchmen once.

Also jason gillespie has 201* coming in as nighwatchmen.

So something for Azhar to aim for.
 
Junaids said:
My friend, it's this simple.

1. Shan Masood is almost 5 years younger than Azhar Ali.
2. In the last 2.5 years since Younis and Misbah retired:
a) Shan Masood averages 5.83 more runs per innings than Azhar Ali (32.46 to Azhar's 26.63).
b) Shan Masood averages 26.28 more runs per innings outside Asia than Azhar Ali (38.40 compared with 12.12).

We can talk about dropping Shan Masood, but that conversation can only start 8 Tests after Azhar Ali is dropped.

AZHAR ALI AWAY since MisYou retired: 8 Tests, 194 runs at 12.12.
SHAN MASOOD AWAY since MisYou retired: 5 Tests, 384 runs at 38.40.
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These are really selective stats (Overseas tests, post MisYou?). While I want Pak team to raise its standards but showing selective stats of a guy who averages 27 after 18 tests isnt gonna do that.

Based upon selective stats of any 5 matches let alone selective conditions as well anybody can be made to look like Don Bradman or a tailender and it can be proved from batting legends to tail lenders.

Azhar while no doubt is in twilight of his career but he has number of performances for Pakistan. Shan Masood has done nothing either in the past nor is he doing currently much, average of 38 for 5 matches overseas if its the biggest achievement of his career then I am not sure what kind of a career it is exactly. Shan has already been given more chances than what others get and if he still cant score big for Pakistan than its unfair on other guys who not only average more than him in FC but are younger as well.

This selective comparison of Azhar and Shan is like saying Labuchane is a better player than Steve Smith as he has scored more in last 3-4 matches while Smith is averaging really poor. Or like the end of Faf Duplesis to the peak of Bavuma.
 
Hawkeye said:
:))) :))) :)))

Never would have guessed that!

No wonder we go all gaga over those who can speak English, even if they're supremely mediocre like Shan Masood!
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FYI, your beloved hero averaged 16.89 in Australia and 22.50 in South Africa, whereas Shan Masood averaged precisely 39 and 38 respectively.

Given your appetite for mediocrity, have some shame before you mock other batsman.
 
moghul said:
Some of us keep asking to drop this batsman and that batsman, like we have Gavaskar, Gooch, Greenidge and Warner in waiting in our FC circuit. Shaan is not an extremely talented opener but we have invested enough on him and he is showing good results particularly in overseas games. There are others much older and useless batsmen and they are liability in the field who should be discarded before Shaan. Infact, if Shaan continue to show some progress and hit a couple of centuries in coming matches, he should be made captain of our test team .
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Couldn't have addressed it any better here.

It's a bit of an oxymoron to find a Misbah fan bash Shan Masood, when the latter has an average that is double of the former in respect of tests played in Australia and South Africa.
 
Whilst I can understand the duck he bagged yesterday is fresh in everyone's memory on here, this does not warrant for anyone to forget his contributions in Australia and South Africa. To average 39 and 38 (respectively) in both countries is more than useful for an opener of a mediocre/near-minnow test side. This shows that all his critics on here are simply barking at the wrong tree.

Some fans on here are just pathetic with their selective memory and it is beyond me to see the Misbah fan brigade bash him, when their favourite averaged half of what Shan was able to accomplish in Australia and South Africa.
 
topspin said:
Whilst I can understand the duck he bagged yesterday is fresh in everyone's memory on here, this does not warrant for anyone to forget his contributions in Australia and South Africa. To average 39 and 38 (respectively) in both countries is more than useful for an opener of a mediocre/near-minnow test side. This shows that all his critics on here are simply barking at the wrong tree.

Some fans on here are just pathetic with their selective memory and it is beyond me to see the Misbah fan brigade bash him, when their favourite averaged half of what Shan was able to accomplish in Australia and South Africa.
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18 matches with 1 century and 6 50s at an average of 27 and too for an opener which is a key position. Even Minnows and associate team rotate players and try to improve things, persisting with him is without any merit. I wouldnt have a problem if he would have been a prodigy like Babar Azam but he is 30 year old and very limited talent with bat in hand. He is well spoken, fit and hard working no doubt about that but in international cricket you can afford someone as an opener who averages 27 after 18 matches. If he is selected again, I will wish for him to perform but he has been given more opportunities than many.

I hope he turns it around like Amla but at the moment things are looking bleak as Amla atleast averaged in mid 40s and was young when he was persisted with.

When was the last time a 30 year old opener with such record in test cricket was persisted with even after 18 matches?

The answer will have surprises for many if I am not wrong. While I can give many examples of out of form players in their twilight being persisted with as the case with Azhar now.
 
topspin said:
Whilst I can understand the duck he bagged yesterday is fresh in everyone's memory on here, this does not warrant for anyone to forget his contributions in Australia and South Africa. To average 39 and 38 (respectively) in both countries is more than useful for an opener of a mediocre/near-minnow test side. This shows that all his critics on here are simply barking at the wrong tree.

Some fans on here are just pathetic with their selective memory and it is beyond me to see the Misbah fan brigade bash him, when their favourite averaged half of what Shan was able to accomplish in Australia and South Africa.
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I'll explain why I don't want him in.

His last 2 dismissals were unforgivable for a test batsman. You cannot just push juicy deliveries to the fielder and gift your wicket, that shows you have learned nothing.

Second thing is that he's already 30 and there is young openers knocking at the door for selection, like Aslam and Imran Butt. We should invest in them so they can develop and offer more years at the top
 
as for now he has bought him some time , but given his mediocrity dont think he will last long.
 
Titan24 said:
18 matches with 1 century and 6 50s at an average of 27 and too for an opener which is a key position. Even Minnows and associate team rotate players and try to improve things, persisting with him is without any merit. I wouldnt have a problem if he would have been a prodigy like Babar Azam but he is 30 year old and very limited talent with bat in hand. He is well spoken, fit and hard working no doubt about that but in international cricket you can afford someone as an opener who averages 27 after 18 matches. If he is selected again, I will wish for him to perform but he has been given more opportunities than many.

I hope he turns it around like Amla but at the moment things are looking bleak as Amla atleast averaged in mid 40s and was young when he was persisted with.

When was the last time a 30 year old opener with such record in test cricket was persisted with even after 18 matches?

The answer will have surprises for many if I am not wrong. While I can give many examples of out of form players in their twilight being persisted with as the case with Azhar now.
Click to expand...

His stats from his previous stints are irrelevant because he was an inferior player back then. This is like me bringing up Babar's average of 39 in red ball cricket and saying he is inferior to Misbah as a batsman because he averages 10-15% less. So as you can see clearly this isn't a logical way to assess his value to the team at present.

Let me make it very clear in case you missed it. Pakistan are a medicore/near-minnow test side and Shan Masood is more than good enough to belong to a side of such calibre.

Tell me when was the last time, a Pakistani test opener managed to average 35+ (let alone 38-39) on away test tours of Australia and South Africa over a period of 12-18 months?

Also I'm glad you brought up Shan Masood's age. Unlike the vast majority of his team mates, he is not an age fudger as [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] has mentioned previously in a past from earlier this year. Are you so naive to believe someone like Sami Aslam is actually 24?

Speaking of other options, I would like to know who would you replace him with?

I dread to think it's Imam because not only is he deficient against short pitched quick bowling, but he's also inept against spin.

Sami Aslam lacks the range of shots to belong at the highest level and is hence far too sedate for my liking.

The point is we don't have any half decent viable options who are superior to Shan Masood.

To average 38 and 39 in the most alien conditions (for Pakistani batsmen) as an opener is more than good enough for this team.

Until you can find me a superior alternative, I can assure you that his presence as an opener is for the greater good of Pakistan Test Cricket.
 
Last edited:
topspin said:
His stats from his previous stints are irrelevant because he was an inferior player back then. This is like me bringing up Babar's average of 39 in red ball cricket and saying he is inferior to Misbah as a batsman because he averages 10-15% less. So as you can see clearly this isn't a logical way to assess his value to the team at present.

Let me make it very clear in case you missed it. Pakistan are a medicore/near-minnow test side and Shan Masood is more than good enough to belong to a side of such calibre.

Tell me when was the last time, a Pakistani test opener managed to average 35+ (let alone 38-39) on away test tours of Australia and South Africa over a period of 12-18 months?

Also I'm glad you brought up Shan Masood's age. Unlike the vast majority of his team mates, he is not an age fudger as [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] has mentioned previously in a past from earlier this year. Are you so naive to believe someone like Sami Aslam is actually 24?

Speaking of other options, I would like to know who would you replace him with?

I dread to think it's Imam because not only is he deficient against short pitched quick bowling, but he's also inept against spin.

Sami Aslam lacks the range of shots to belong at the highest level and is hence far too sedate for my liking.

The point is we don't have any half decent viable options who are superior to Shan Masood.

To average 38 and 39 in the most alien conditions (for Pakistani batsmen) as an opener is more than good enough for this team.

Until you can find me a superior alternative, I can assure you that his presence as an opener is for the greater good of Pakistan Test Cricket.
Click to expand...

I guess you missed reading the part when I said that even minnow teams and associate teams atleast rotate a non performing player to improve themselves so just by saying Pakistan is a minnow Shan place cant be justified.

Also you havent answered the question; when was the last time it has happened in test cricket that a 30 year old opener averaging 27 after 18 matches was persisted with?

Sami Aslam still averages more than Shan in tests and averages more in FC as well. You are talking about shot range while backing Shan Masood? What an irony it is.

No one will know if Imran Butt, Sami Aslam are superior if they arent given as many opportunities and that is why I am in favor of rotating players who couldn't produce impact at test level. How can you say Imran Butt and Sami Aslam are not superior to Shan when they both average more in FC.

Sami Aslam scored two 50s in two innings of his first match in Eng, it isnt like he doesnt know how to hold a bat in overseas conditions. I dont need to know from anybody about age fudging, if anybody has proaf he can enlighten the whole forum and if somebody doesnt then no point in blind guessing and assumptions.
 
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