(AP Photo)
Shan Masood set the record straight regarding alleged friction with Shaheen Afridi, clarifying the viral moments from Pakistan’s Test series defeat to Bangladesh. He also highlighted the necessity of more Test matches to enhance the team’s performance.
Shan Masood, captain of the Pakistan Test team, has dispelled ongoing rumors of discord between him and key fast bowler Shaheen Afridi. The speculation emerged after Pakistan’s heavy home Test series loss to Bangladesh, which featured visible signs of tension within the squad. A notable incident fueling the rumors was a viral video in which Afridi appeared to dismiss Masood’s hand during a mid-match team discussion.
Masood clarified the situation, explaining that Afridi’s gesture was not a sign of frustration but a precautionary measure. He elaborated that Afridi withdrew his hand because it was placed on a spot where he had an injury.”There’s nothing more to it,” Masood stated.
“I think there was an incident going around where I had put my hands on Shaheen’s shoulder, and he had shrugged it off. He was not angry with me. He had got hit by Nahid Rana and I had touched that exact place,” Masood said during the post-match press-conference.
Compounding the tension, there was another moment during the series where Masood appeared to reprimand Afridi following a boundary. However, Masood later clarified that his frustration was aimed at head coach Jason Gillespie for using an older ball in the match, not at Afridi.
“The next one was that I was angry at Jason Gillepie. But that was not the case. Our ball had gone into the stands after Litton hit a shot. That ball was 8 overs old. After the umpires replaced the ball, we noticed that it was much older, 18-19 overs old and I was arguing that we needed a better ball, and then I saw rumours of resignation, rift with Shaheen. So we try to watch less social media during matches,” Masood added.
The defeat in the second Test in Rawalpindi, where Pakistan fell to Bangladesh by six wickets, marked Shan Masood’s fifth consecutive loss since he took on the captaincy in 2023. His leadership began with three Test losses against Australia in their home series, followed by the two recent home defeats to Bangladesh. These setbacks were particularly humiliating for Pakistan, as they had never previously lost a Test match to Bangladesh.
Masood stressed that for Pakistan to advance in Test cricket, the team needs more opportunities to play Test matches. He highlighted that concentrating solely on T20Is will not foster the growth of their Test team.
