On these points, the decision was an absolute success. Since losing the first Test against England in October on a flat pitch, Pakistan have done an about-face on the type of surfaces they want to prepare for. Particular attention was paid to the steps they took to ensure that manipulation remained the most potent – and arguably only – threat.
Masood stressed that the victories were not a foregone conclusion, but a consequence of Pakistan playing the best cricket in all departments in every match. “If you look at the batters individually, it doesn’t make for good reading. But our batters batted better than the West Indies and better than the England batters in October. If you just look at the hundreds and fifties and judge them in raw terms, then it will be misleading Just like we will have to be flexible in our playing style, viewers will also have to be flexible in their thinking. Look at India’s plan and their home averages and you will understand. . . If conditions are calm, it is difficult to get 20 wickets. We sacrificed individual stages for the sake of team results.
Masood’s comments indicate that Pakistan does not yet intend to change this strategy which has been successful for it. Even though this World Test Championship (WTC) cycle has proven to be unfortunate – they will finish second from the bottom of the standings – they have, on paper, a much smoother draw in the next cycle of two years. It sees them playing three two-Test series at home against South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, and three series away against West Indies, England and Bangladesh. Masood has made it clear that he has his eyes on a last-place finish in 2027 and, if that happens, the route is through “winning all our home games”.
“If you look at the batters individually, it doesn’t make for good reading. But our batters batted better than West Indies and better than England’s batters in October… Just as we will have to be flexible with our style of play, viewers will also have to demonstrate flexibility in their thinking.
Shan Massoud
He also dismissed any concerns about his fellow batters’ dissatisfaction with these playing conditions and allayed fears about the redundancy of Pakistan’s Test fast bowling. “We can’t pit our bowlers and batters against each other,” he said. “The hardest thing to do here was batting and fast bowling. West Indies didn’t score 141 in any of their innings, and yet we had a partnership. [Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan] do it. The mistake is that we should perhaps have tried to string together a few partnerships around this major project. Performances are not just about scoring centuries; in certain conditions, 10 to 20 extra races can make all the difference.
“If anyone has to sacrifice there, like the bowlers or the fast batters, so be it. There will be oppositions where we think we can bowl seamless pitches. Then the fast bowlers will have the opportunity to get wickets like spinners got here We need to work on how we can progress as a team A WTC is a two year cycle so fast bowlers will come in. We have away series. in England and in the West Indies with the Dukes ball here we can prepare seam friendly wickets Overall, no one’s role is diminished.
Pakistan will not play another Test for nine months and will only have two scheduled in the next 14 months. For Masood, this was the biggest concern and a situation he found unacceptable.
“I have complained about this issue and raised it many times; a country like Pakistan cannot just play 4-5 Tests a year. This is something we need to push for as a nation. A gap of ten months, and then if you come to play in these conditions, it can be completely different. Our first-class season will probably only begin at that time. These ten months are important, and I hope. that we will have international and domestic cricket, as well as the Test players hopefully we can take care of them in the next ten months so they are ready for the series against South Africa in October.”
Ten months is a long time in cricket and, as Masood knows only too well, especially in Pakistan cricket. But in a country where captains can live or die by the results their team produces, it’s no surprise that Masood makes no apologies for a strategy that, so far, has allowed his team to achieve these victories. , whatever the optics that accompany them.
Danyal Rasool is the Pakistan correspondent for PK Press Club. @Danny61000
