Pakistan’s humiliating defeat at the hands of Bangladesh in the first Test has put Shan Massod & Co under the scanner. It was Pakistan’s first-ever loss to Bangladesh in Test history which has led to a massive outrage in the country’s cricketing fraternity. Former players have been criticizing Pakistan’s performance against Najmul Shamto-led side in Rawalpindi. The latest individual to join the bandwagon is former all-rounder Shahid Afridi who lashed out at Masood and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Taking to microblogging site X after Pakistan’s defeat. Afridi questioned the pitch preparation for the opening Test. The former captain also slammed Masood for picking 4 fast bowlers and not a single specialist spinner for the Test match.
“A 10-wicket defeat raises serious questions about the decision to prepare this type of pitch, select four fast bowlers and leave out a specialist spinner. This to me clearly shows a lack of awareness about home conditions,” he posted on X.
“That said, you cannot take the credit away from Bangladesh for the brand of cricket they played throughout the Test,” he added.
A 10-wicket defeat raises serious questions about the decision to prepare this type of pitch, select four fast bowlers and leave out a specialist spinner. This to me clearly shows a lack of awareness about home conditions. That said, you cannot take the credit away from…— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) August 25, 2024
Masood Defends Decision to Play 4 Seamers
Shan Masood defended the decision to select four pace bowlers and no specialist spinner for the first Test against Bangladesh. Addressing the media after the game on Sunday, he refused to admit that it was a bad call to go in without a specialist spinner even after Shakib ul Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz shared seven wickets on the final day to bowl out Pakistan for just 146 runs.
“We had anticipated the pitch to offer more assistance to the seamers. Looking at the pitch, we expected it to do more,” he said at the post-match conference.
“If we played 3 fast bowlers, we would be pushing them to the limit and the spinner would be bowling 25-30 overs a day, which we wanted to avoid. We thought that with the weather, it may not even last the full 5 days. At the end of the day, we got it wrong,” he said.
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