Your last test as captain? Shana Masood was upset by a reporter’s question in Bangladesh
“Is this your last game as captain?”
The question, dropped like a hand grenade at the very start of Wednesday’s postgame press conference, threatened to instantly turn an already somber room into toxicity. Pakistan just slumped to a 78-run defeat against Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, confirming the historic ‘Banglawash’ series 0-2. It was a terrifying mirror image of the 2024 home humiliation they suffered against the same opponents in Rawalpindi. 2nd Test Scorecard | Highlighting
Under Shan Masood, Pakistan’s struggles in the red-ball format have deepened, leaving them languishing in eighth place in the nine-team World Cup table. Instead of flaring up or deflecting, however, Masood met the reporter’s immediate questioning with a remarkable, unblinking attitude.
“Right now I’m just going to talk about the series,” Masood replied quietly, refusing to let the emotion of the moment break him.
“It’s never a good place to lose matches. But in this series, I thought in both matches we had good chances to do well in the game. I think we have to look at ourselves, whether it’s batting, bowling or fielding, and see where we lost the match.”
Masood’s dignity under fire was in stark contrast to the familiar, chaotic collapse his team took to the field on the final morning. Chasing a monumental fourth-innings target of 437, Pakistan mounted a spirited resistance and fought their way to 358. Mohammad Rizwan played a solitary, heroic crusade of 94, while Masood himself played a gutsy 71 and Salman Ali Agha chipped in with 71. But the mountain proved too steep, an airport spin, a taijul six. Islam. The final blow came mercilessly as Pakistan’s last three wickets collapsed without adding a single run.
Despite the bitter result, the 36-year-old skipper sought to praise the playing conditions and steered the conversation towards pure cricketing merit.
“Thanks to the people who decided what pitches we were going to play on. I think the pitches were great,” Masood said. “We played on pitches where there were runs for the batsmen, spin for the spinners and pace and bounce for the seamers. We had two good cricket wickets where two good matches were played.”
MORE TEST MATCHES FOR PAKISTAN
However, Masood pointed to a structural handicap that has consistently plagued Pakistan’s ability to adapt to overseas tours – the lack of length in their Test schedules.
“I voted that we need to play more Test cricket,” insisted Masood. “Whether it is against Bangladesh or any other opposition, we would like to play more Test matches. We would like to play a multi-match Test series, not just two matches. Because sometimes when you come to new places, you take a game to clear the conditions. It would be nice to play Test series where we play 3-4 matches consistently.”
Pakistan have played only four series of four or more matches in the last 32 years, while the Big Three – India, Australia and England – regularly play four or five-match series between them.
WHOLESALE CHANGES NOT SOLUTIONS: MASOOD
With a public at home demanding immediate accountability, Masood offered a sobering, macro view of why reactive musical chairs within management are the very thing keeping Pakistan cricket trapped in a cycle of decline.
“You see, my intentions are clear. When I joined Test cricket, it was to improve Pakistan’s Test cricket. These are things that need to be discussed with the board and ultimately the decision always lies with the board,” he bluntly stated.
“My intention has always been how we can improve. You should always accept challenges and opportunities. My drive will remain the same in any capacity – it is not necessary for me to contribute just by sitting in the captain’s chair or as a player. You never know where life will take you. Whatever happens, my interest has always been Pakistan cricket. I have always worn this shirt with great pride and put everything else aside.”
For Masood, the road to a true red ball renaissance requires patience and honest introspection of mistakes, rather than hasty administrative decisions.
“Again, I think at this point Pakistan cricket needs to think less about change for the sake of change and more about how Pakistan Test cricket can improve. Because there is definitely a direction. As I said earlier, there are many things we need to build on. You can’t build on big changes. You build by understanding what you’re doing right, what you’re doing wrong and how we can reduce our mistakes.”
Pakistan will next week play a two-match Test series in the West Indies in June-July before heading to England for a three-match Test series as they look to improve their status in the World Test Championship cycle.
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
20 May 2026 16:53 IST