Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood found himself in a tense exchange with a journalist during a press conference following Pakistan’s defeat against the West Indies in the second Test of the two-match series at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The heated moment unfolded when the reporter directly asked Masood if he would consider stepping down as captain or wait for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to make the decision for him.
Visibly annoyed by the line of questioning, Masood initially tried to deflect and requested another journalist to ask their question. However, the same reporter persisted, insisting on an answer.
Masood, visibly irked, addressed the question head-on: “If you want to talk about facts, go ahead, but your information is inaccurate. I respect your opinion, but there is a lot of disrespect in your question. You cannot disrespect me or any player like this. We all play for Pakistan and strive to achieve results, but such disrespect will not be tolerated. Koi tolerate nahi karega (No one will tolerate this).”
He further emphasized, “You have to understand that we are Pakistan players. If you want to criticize, that’s fine, but don’t try to put us down.”
PCB Holds the Authority on Decisions
Masood reiterated that the ultimate authority regarding leadership decisions lies with the Pakistan Cricket Board, and players are bound to abide by its judgments. “You have to understand and appreciate that we are trying to do something different. Anyone can search online and throw opinions, but we are working to achieve results. We have won three of our last four home Tests,” he pointed out.
Pakistan’s Woes Continue
Pakistan’s defeat against the West Indies on Monday was a significant blow, as they lost by 120 runs despite the visitors being reduced to 54/8 in the first innings. The loss marked the end of Pakistan’s 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship cycle, with the team finishing at the bottom of the points table.
West Indies’ victory was remarkable given their initial struggles in the match. Reflecting on the game, Masood acknowledged an ongoing issue with dismissing lower-order batters quickly, which has cost the team in recent matches.
“This has been a recurring issue for us—failing to capitalize on opportunities and dismiss the lower order promptly. In Tests, you need to seize every chance as a team, and we must address this,” Masood admitted.
Despite the loss, Masood emphasized the team’s commitment to improving their performance in future matches.
