Captain of the national Test team, Shan Masood, expressed immense happiness over the remarkable victory against the West Indies, crediting the entire team for the win.
Speaking at a press conference in Multan, he praised the spinners for their outstanding performance once again. Sajid Khan, Nauman Ali, and Abrar Ahmed bowled exceptionally well. He also highlighted the pivotal partnership between Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan in the first innings. The batting unit and batting coach also deserve credit. While flaws exist in every department, batting on this pitch was the biggest challenge.
He stated, “Sometimes even 20-30 runs can be valuable contributions. If we aim to become the best, we must improve further. We’ve noted many things for improvement. Cricket is a team game, and sacrifices in one department are often necessary for the success of another.”
“I am not concerned about individual success or failure. Spending time under tough conditions is also an essential task. We need to groom players. Personal achievements are secondary; the team’s victory is what matters most. We must strive to play more Test matches and maintain our winning momentum in home conditions. Just because we won doesn’t mean everything is perfect. We’ve observed areas that need improvement and will work on them. We are aware of our weaknesses and need to give our batting unit more opportunities.”
Shan emphasized the importance of winning all home matches to perform well in the World Test Championship. “Our next Test series is 10 months away, and we need to ensure we play as many Test matches as possible. Currently, fast bowlers don’t have a significant role, but their role will increase in the next Test cycle.”
“You can’t win Test matches without taking 20 wickets. It’s not necessary to rely on just one bowler. Abrar Ahmed performed well, but we need to score as many runs as possible based on the pitch conditions and take those 20 wickets. We haven’t finalized the playing XI for the next Test match yet, as there are still two days left in this Test. Kashif Ali and Rohail Nazir have delivered commendable performances. Right now, we are focused on strengthening the team in home conditions. Initially, we will field the best team, and then gradually include players where needed.”
