Shan Masood likely to be stripped off Pakistan’s Test captaincy after Multan drubbing

Shan Masood. (Source – PCB)

With the Multan Test loss, criticism over Pakistan’s depleting performance has increased leaps and bounds. The team succumbed to touring Bangladesh by 0-2 and they could not make a comeback as the first Test against England was another crushing defeat. They requested a flat track in Multan and piled up 556 runs in the first innings.

As things stand out, they became the first-ever team to lose a Test by an innings margin despite scoring 500 plus in the first innings on October 11. As is the tradition with the Pakistan team, the sword is hanging over captain Shan Masood and a report from Cricket Pakistan suggests that his position as the leader is in jeopardy.

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Not only Tests, but the team is underperforming in the white-ball cricket alike. Barring their final appearance in the T20 World Cup 2022, they have failed to reach the knockout stages of the subsequent ICC events. Moreover, Babar Azam was stripped of captaincy after the World Cup 2023 debacle, and Shaheen Afridi was named as the T20I captain.

Captaincy has added a significant workload: Babar

Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie were named as the white-ball and red-ball coaches, respectively. Things got further complexed when Babar was reinstated as captain ahead of the tournament and the right-handed batter decided to step-down almost two months after Pakistan’s group-stage exit. 

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“Captaincy has been a rewarding experience, but it’s added a significant workload. I want to prioritize my performance, enjoy my batting, and spend quality time with my family, which brings me joy. By stepping down, I will gain clarity moving forward and focus more energy on my game and personal growth.  I’m grateful for your unwavering support and belief in me. Your enthusiasm has meant the world to me,” a snippet of Babar’s statement read from his stepping-down post.