New Delhi, Nov 2 (IANS) Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood believes Babar Azam's “break” from the Test team will help him get back into form rather than harm his confidence or career. Babar, one of Pakistan's most prominent players, was left out of the team for the last two Tests against England after a long run drought. Despite Babar's absence, Pakistan won the series 2-1.
Speaking on the BBC's Stumped radio show, Masood praised Babar's abilities, calling him “one of the best batsmen in the world” and also adding that “sometimes, people need a break.”
Masood said, “I think he is one of the best batsmen in the world. I am no one to say that he has no future. He has every quality to become one of the greatest batsmen of Test cricket. He's always at or near the top of the rankings, sometimes people need a break.”
With Babar confirmed to return to the Pakistan national team for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia, there is optimism over his future in Tests. The series will feature three ODIs and while Pakistan has been away from 50-over internationals, Babar's journey through leadership changes and recent challenges puts them at the forefront. Whereas Pakistan's Test team is still progressing without him.
Masood believes the time away will help Babar “come back as a stronger player.” Reflecting on Babar's past successes, Masood recalled his innings against South Africa in 2018, which marked Babar's rise in Test cricket. Pakistan's next Test series will be against South Africa, the same team that Babar faced when he initially took over as Test captain and led Pakistan to a historic 2–0 series win.
Masood said, “I think this break will benefit him a lot and he will come back a stronger player. There is no harm in being out and taking rest sometimes. He has played a lot of cricket and gone through a lot, And he will always be one of the leading batsmen to play for Pakistan.”
The recent series win has also brought new challenges for Pakistan's Test team under Masood, including structural changes in the coaching and selection team. Head coach Jason Gillespie, re-branded as “match day strategist”, expressed dissatisfaction with the redefined role, saying it was not what he “originally signed up for.”
Meanwhile, white-ball coach Gary Kirsten also recently resigned after experiencing the new setup. However, Masood remains focused on the team. He said he has a strong relationship with the selectors and likes to emphasize collective success. He said, “People in Pakistan are quick to attribute individual success to any one person. I think it will always be a collective thing. I would like to give credit to everyone else; it was a collective decision. When we made our first Sitting together in the meeting, we were on the same page and said 'We need to take 20 wickets, how will we take 20 wickets?'
The win against England also brought some awkward moments for Masood in the media. After the win, he found himself in a tense conversation with commentator Rameez Raja, who mentioned Masood's six-match losing streak as captain. The conversation quickly went viral, leading to widespread criticism of King.
However, Masood handled the situation with his characteristic composure, saying, “We thought playing on a used pitch, playing three spinners – we thought it would give us a lot of advantage. I have played on three different pitches so far in my tenure. -Have worked with different setups. My first series in Australia was different, and then we had a group of people who were involved in selection and leadership. At the end of the day, it's about Pakistan cricket and we're very fortunate that the whole group came together.”
Masood's commitment to a team-first mentality and his support for Babar's break reflect a consistent approach to leadership, with an eye on long-term benefits for Pakistan cricket. “At the end of the day, it is about Pakistan cricket and we are very fortunate that the whole group came together,” he said. He brought a renewed focus on unity and strategy as Pakistan builds momentum for the future.
–IANS
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