Winnable games lost because of Shan Masood's poor captaincy

[Savak]

1) Pakistan vs Australia 2nd Test at MCG 2023

Australia is 16/4 in the second innings and are only 70 runs ahead, both Shaheen and Mir Hamza are getting the ball to swing. Amir Jamal even creates an opportunity of Mitchell Marsh in the slips which was dropped but Australia recovers to score 262 all out and Australia succeed in getting a total out of Pakistan's reach

2) Pakistan vs Bangladesh 1st Test 2024

Pakistan declares their innings at 448/6 in the first innings. The captain and coach defend the decision saying it was an aggressive, attacking move but in reality it was because they showed complete disrespect to Bangladesh. End result Bangladesh score 560 plus in the first innings and Pakistan's batting collapsed in the second innings under pressure. The captain and the coach both decided to play 4 pacers in Pakistani conditions as well

3) Pakistan vs Bangladesh 2nd Test 2024

Pakistan score 280 in the first innings and we have Bangladesh realling at 26/6. Before we know it, the pitch becomes better for batting but captain Shan Masood spreads the field and allows Litton Das and the other Bangladeshi batsman easy singles, doubles and Bangladesh end up reaching 262 all out and Pakistan succumbs to pressure yet again

4) Pakistan vs South Africa 1st Test 2024

Pakistan scored 211 in the first innings and then have reduced South Africa to 213/8, but Shan with his dumb bowling selections and field placements allowed the last two South African wickets to take the total to 301 runs which gave South Africa a very vital lead.

Similarly in the second innings when South Africa needed to chase 148 runs, Pakistan had South Africa 99/8 in the second innings but Shan Masood with his defensive field placings and strange bowling choices i.e. giving Aamir Jamal an over at the vital stage allowed Rabada and Jansen to take South Africa home

5) Pakistan vs West Indies 2nd Test 2025

West Indies were 55/8 in the first innings but Shan kept on over bowling the spinners and allowed the last two wickets to take the WI to 161 all out, not once did he even think maybe i should bring a pacer to try something different. Now Pakistan is 154 runs all out and the match is even stevens again.

Bottomline is that Shan has had a full year in the job and based on the sample size above he is not improving as a captain and his individual record as a player does not justify him having a spot in the team. He could have justified his position in the team as both player and captain if he had proved himself as a Mike Brearley type captain but he is not a great captain. Time for the PCB to appoint a new captain. We can't have an incompetent captain due to which we habitually lose winnable matches.

 

[mominsaigol]

1) Pakistan vs Australia 2nd Test at MCG 2023

Australia is 16/4 in the second innings and are only 70 runs ahead, both Shaheen and Mir Hamza are getting the ball to swing. Amir Jamal even creates an opportunity of Mitchell Marsh in the slips which was dropped but Australia recovers to score 262 all out and Australia succeed in getting a total out of Pakistan's reach

2) Pakistan vs Bangladesh 1st Test 2024

Pakistan declares their innings at 448/6 in the first innings. The captain and coach defend the decision saying it was an aggressive, attacking move but in reality it was because they showed complete disrespect to Bangladesh. End result Bangladesh score 560 plus in the first innings and Pakistan's batting collapsed in the second innings under pressure. The captain and the coach both decided to play 4 pacers in Pakistani conditions as well

3) Pakistan vs Bangladesh 2nd Test 2024

Pakistan score 280 in the first innings and we have Bangladesh realling at 26/6. Before we know it, the pitch becomes better for batting but captain Shan Masood spreads the field and allows Litton Das and the other Bangladeshi batsman easy singles, doubles and Bangladesh end up reaching 262 all out and Pakistan succumbs to pressure yet again

4) Pakistan vs South Africa 1st Test 2024

Pakistan scored 211 in the first innings and then have reduced South Africa to 213/8, but Shan with his dumb bowling selections and field placements allowed the last two South African wickets to take the total to 301 runs which gave South Africa a very vital lead.

Similarly in the second innings when South Africa needed to chase 148 runs, Pakistan had South Africa 99/8 in the second innings but Shan Masood with his defensive field placings and strange bowling choices i.e. giving Aamir Jamal an over at the vital stage allowed Rabada and Jansen to take South Africa home

5) Pakistan vs West Indies 2nd Test 2025

West Indies were 55/8 in the first innings but Shan kept on over bowling the spinners and allowed the last two wickets to take the WI to 161 all out, not once did he even think maybe i should bring a pacer to try something different. Now Pakistan is 154 runs all out and the match is even stevens again.

Bottomline is that Shan has had a full year in the job and based on the sample size above he is not improving as a captain and his individual record as a player does not justify him having a spot in the team. He could have justified his position in the team as both player and captain if he had proved himself as a Mike Brearley type captain but he is not a great captain. Time for the PCB to appoint a new captain. We can't have an incompetent captain due to which we habitually lose winnable matches.

1) Aus wasn't his fault. Infact it was one of the few instances he was aggressive. His fielders and bowlers let him down plain and simple.

2) I don't blame him for this. He was trying to aim for pakistan's first win at home rather then aiming for another NZ draw.

3) 100% agreed. Easily his worst captaincy performance. I have gone to lengths scrutinising him for this. Bang 2nd test is 100% shan's fault.

4) Once again agreed.

5) I'm withholding judgement until the match concludes.

I agree with your 3rd and 4th point but not with the 1st and 2nd.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Lol... Lost tomorrow could be a death Knell for Shan's captaincy era

 

[Barragan]

He is a mediocre captain

Just better than babar (which is a very low standard) and that's all

Rizwan easily the best

 

[zaidihusain]

1) Pakistan vs Australia 2nd Test at MCG 2023

Australia is 16/4 in the second innings and are only 70 runs ahead, both Shaheen and Mir Hamza are getting the ball to swing. Amir Jamal even creates an opportunity of Mitchell Marsh in the slips which was dropped but Australia recovers to score 262 all out and Australia succeed in getting a total out of Pakistan's reach

2) Pakistan vs Bangladesh 1st Test 2024

Pakistan declares their innings at 448/6 in the first innings. The captain and coach defend the decision saying it was an aggressive, attacking move but in reality it was because they showed complete disrespect to Bangladesh. End result Bangladesh score 560 plus in the first innings and Pakistan's batting collapsed in the second innings under pressure. The captain and the coach both decided to play 4 pacers in Pakistani conditions as well

3) Pakistan vs Bangladesh 2nd Test 2024

Pakistan score 280 in the first innings and we have Bangladesh realling at 26/6. Before we know it, the pitch becomes better for batting but captain Shan Masood spreads the field and allows Litton Das and the other Bangladeshi batsman easy singles, doubles and Bangladesh end up reaching 262 all out and Pakistan succumbs to pressure yet again

4) Pakistan vs South Africa 1st Test 2024

Pakistan scored 211 in the first innings and then have reduced South Africa to 213/8, but Shan with his dumb bowling selections and field placements allowed the last two South African wickets to take the total to 301 runs which gave South Africa a very vital lead.

Similarly in the second innings when South Africa needed to chase 148 runs, Pakistan had South Africa 99/8 in the second innings but Shan Masood with his defensive field placings and strange bowling choices i.e. giving Aamir Jamal an over at the vital stage allowed Rabada and Jansen to take South Africa home

5) Pakistan vs West Indies 2nd Test 2025

West Indies were 55/8 in the first innings but Shan kept on over bowling the spinners and allowed the last two wickets to take the WI to 161 all out, not once did he even think maybe i should bring a pacer to try something different. Now Pakistan is 154 runs all out and the match is even stevens again.

Bottomline is that Shan has had a full year in the job and based on the sample size above he is not improving as a captain and his individual record as a player does not justify him having a spot in the team. He could have justified his position in the team as both player and captain if he had proved himself as a Mike Brearley type captain but he is not a great captain. Time for the PCB to appoint a new captain. We can't have an incompetent captain due to which we habitually lose winnable matches.

You can't solely blame captaincy for all these failures. No. 2, 3 & 4 were lost mainly due to batting collapse in 2nd innings, you can't win a test match by setting up low target.

Regarding no. 1 Aus always fights till the last bowl is bowled, even in the past also they have won against Pakistan from losing position

Shan has his flaws but still better than Babar. I believe Saud should take over from Shan in future

 

[mominsaigol]

Honestly i think shan is fine. He's whatever. I blame him for the Bangladesh game but honestly it's whatever and water under the bridge.

Pakistan should just focus on the next wtc cycle. Continue winning at home and find a way to win abroad.

I don't mind shan opening tbh.

 

[Savak]

You can't solely blame captaincy for all these failures. No. 2, 3 & 4 were lost mainly due to batting collapse in 2nd innings, you can't win a test match by setting up low target.

Regarding no. 1 Aus always fights till the last bowl is bowled, even in the past also they have won against Pakistan from losing position

Shan has his flaws but still better than Babar. I believe Saud should take over from Shan in future

We have 5 games where we can clearly see that Shan's decision making as captain suffers under pressure and he resorts to defensiveness when the game is on the line. Have seen enough to assess he is not going to improve as captain and is not a long term option for Pakistan.

 

[Hyder]

Instead of captaincy i think we need a tearaway fast bowler on these pitches who may not bowl with newball but can finish up the tail with bouncers and yorkers

 

[jnaveen1980]

He is kind of anti-virat-kohli in terms of captaincy. Basically anti-fast-bowling by the look of it. Just one boundary he took off the debutant.

 

[BouncerGuy]

NO no... shan has scored a century after a long time and has improved his average up to 30. he can also speak good English.. Forgive him for these losses..

 

[zaidihusain]

We have 5 games where we can clearly see that Shan's decision making as captain suffers under pressure and he resorts to defensiveness when the game is on the line. Have seen enough to assess he is not going to improve as captain and is not a long term option for Pakistan.

Test team needs stability more than anything, you can't have new captain every year specially when the team doesn't play too many test matches.

Shan's worst test series as a captain against Bangladesh in which many nonsensical decisions were taken like playing all pace attack at Pindi. More than the captaincy the biggest issue is main batters are not performing at all in either home series or away series due to which there were many collapses specially in 2nd innings and main fast bowlers have become bowling machine and totally ineffective. At least the team is now aiming for winning the game and yes it may come with some consequences. Shan will leave in a year or 2 max and Saud is the right guy to take over

The previous test captain got a chance for 4-5 years and during his stint his intent was to draw the game even at home conditions.