Pakistan captain Shan Masood led his team to their first home Test victory in nearly four years. The triumph, which saw England skittled out for 144, provided a much-needed boost for Pakistan and Masood, who secured his first Test win as captain.
Shan Masood stated,
This was a very important win for Pakistan cricket.
“The recent results were unacceptable,” he added. “There is relief. This is a long process and journey. It won’t be fixed overnight. It’s been three years and 10 months since we last won a Test at home. That’s not acceptable for Pakistan cricket. We pride ourselves on how well we play this game and how we see ourselves as a team. For us to get a result and hopefully start something here in our own conditions is exciting.”
Following an innings defeat that intensified scrutiny on Masood’s captaincy, the newly established selection committee made bold changes to Pakistan’s strategy. Fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah were replaced by spinners Zahid Mahmood, Sajid Khan, and Noman Ali. The same pitch from the first Test was reused, a decision that paid dividends.
Shan Masood emphasized the unchanged focus on taking 20 wickets, a non-negotiable aspect of Test cricket. “I said that in defeat, and I’ll say it in victory: 20 wickets is non-negotiable in Test matches,” he asserted.
“Today, we were solely focused on how to take eight wickets,” Shan Masood explained. “Since I’ve come in, we’ve had no issue taking risks. We’ve tried to play cricket that brings results, and we’ve lost a lot of matches doing that, too.”
As they prepare for the third Test in Rawalpindi, a venue not known for spin-friendly conditions, Shan Masood expressed hope for a pitch that would aid their strategy. “I would [like it to spin]. We’re hoping the sun can play its part and the wicket can be on the drier side.”
As Pakistan looks to build on this momentum, the focus remains on adapting strategies to secure victories, with an eye on the conditions and the ultimate goal of taking 20 wickets.
