Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood said Babar Azam’s “break” from the Test team will end up benefiting him rather than harming him. Babar was excluded from the Pakistan team during the last two Tests against England, which Pakistan won to claim the series 2-1, after a prolonged lean spell.
“I think he is one of the best hitters in the world. I am nobody to [say he doesn’t have] a future,” Masood said BBC perplexed radio program. “He has all the qualities to be one of the best batsmen in Test cricket. He is always there or thereabouts in the rankings. Sometimes people need a break.”
Pakistan were quick to point out that Babar has not entered an international blackout period, calling him up for Pakistan’s twin white-ball series against Australia. It begins with a three-match ODI series, the first since Pakistan’s disappointing World Cup campaign in which Babar reluctantly stepped down as captain. Pakistan has gone so long without playing an over-50s international that Babar has since been reappointed white-ball leader and resigned once again, all without having led the team in the format.
But, in the clearest sign yet that Babar’s absence from Pakistan’s Test team will be temporary, Masood said he hoped he would “come back a stronger player”. Babar has not scored a half-century in Test cricket in 18 innings dating back to late 2022, Pakistan’s next Test series is in South Africa, an opposition against which he has had some happy Test memories. South Africa was Pakistan’s first opponent when Babar became Test captain and led his team to a 2-0 series victory. In 2018, his assault on Dale Steyn in an intense counter-attacking tackle at SuperSport Park was widely seen as Babar’s proof of coming of age.
“I think this break will benefit him a lot and he will come back a stronger player,” Masood said. “There’s nothing wrong with being retired sometimes and taking a breather. He’s played a lot of cricket and been through a lot, and he’ll always be one of the top batsmen to play for Pakistan.”
Masood was less willing to get involved in the details of what his role entails. After the PCB appointed a new selection committee following a first innings defeat in the first Test against England, the captain, as well as head coach Jason Gillespie, were removed from the selection panel. Gillespie called himself a “matchday strategist” in the press conference that followed and said it was “not what I originally signed up for.” The change also applied to white-ball coach Gary Kirsten, who resigned earlier this week.
Masood said he had a good relationship with the incoming selectors, insisting he wanted to focus on the team rather than focusing on where individual credit should be doled out. “People in Pakistan are quick to give success to people,” he said. “Making one person a hero. I think it will always be a collective thing. I prefer to pass the credit to everyone else; it was a collective decision. When we sat together in our first meeting, we were on the same page. We said ‘we need to take 20 wickets, ‘How do we take 20 wickets?’
“We thought that playing on a used pitch, playing with three spinners, that would benefit us massively. I have worked with three different setups during my tenure so far. My first series in Australia was different, the series in Bangladesh was different, and then we had to this group of people who were involved in the selection and the leadership. I have been on the same page with them so far. At the end of the day, it is about Pakistan cricket, and we are very fortunate that the entire collective came together. “
There were also less important issues, although more flammable. Moments after the Pakistan captain scored the winning six, he sat down for an interview with the host broadcaster, which included some awkward exchanges with commentator Ramiz Raja, in which Raja awkwardly asked Masood how he had led the team. to six consecutive defeats. A cropped version of the exchange went viral, with much criticism for Raja, who later posted a video clarifying the intent behind his questions.
“There’s no hard feelings on my part,” laughs Masood. “I have always been an open book to the media and have tried to behave in the best way possible. People have every right to ask questions however they want. I want to give the best account of myself and my character. I want to be reflected as I am.” “I am. I am good at accepting constructive criticism and I am also good at filtering things.”
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