Pakistan’s red-ball captain, Shan Masood, has stepped forward to defend Babar Azam after the former skipper faced heavy criticism for his underwhelming performance in the recent Test series against Bangladesh. Babar managed to score only 64 runs across four innings, averaging just 16, as Pakistan suffered a historic 0-2 series defeat, marking their first-ever Test series loss to Bangladesh.
Babar’s struggles at the crease have sparked widespread disappointment among fans and cricket pundits alike. However, Shan Masood emphasised the importance of patience and consistency in player selection, particularly in the challenging red-ball format.
Addressing the media in a post-match press conference, Shan stated, “We will have to work on bringing in consistency in selection. You will have to bear with players’ failures. It’s not just about Babar Azam; the more consistently you give a chance to someone, the better he will perform.”
Shan also pointed out the difficulties in identifying in-form players who can be automatic selections, especially given Pakistan’s current lack of regular red-ball cricket. “You will have to search where you will get that player who can be an automatic selection on current form. Since we’re not playing red-ball cricket currently, we don’t have many options to pick from,” he explained.
The captain noted that the team fielded in Bangladesh was largely the same squad that had previously toured Australia and achieved domestic and international success for Pakistan.
Pakistan’s recent home Test record has been concerning, with the team failing to secure a win in their last 10 matches. As they look to bounce back, their next challenge will be a three-match Test series against England in October, a formidable assignment as they seek to regain their form and confidence.