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Pakistan captain Shan Masood has expressed his deep disappointment following the team’s embarrassing 6-wicket defeat against Bangladesh in the second Test, which also resulted in a series loss 2-0. The defeat, which came as a major setback for the home team, has sparked concerns about Pakistan’s performance and preparation in the red-ball format. Following the game, Masood highlighted the recurring issues that have plagued Pakistan’s Test side and stressed the need for urgent improvements.
“Extremely disappointed, we were excited for the home season. The story has been the same as Australia; we have not learned our lessons. We thought we were playing good cricket in Australia but not doing the job, that’s something we need to work on,” Masood said in the post-match presentation.
Repeating past mistakes
Masood pointed out that Pakistan’s failure to capitalize on strong positions in matches has become a worrying trend. He referenced similar struggles during Pakistan’s tour of Australia, emphasizing that despite moments of dominance, the team repeatedly let their opponents back into the game.
“It has happened four times in my tenure that we have let the team back into the contest when we were dominating. I think Test cricket demands something else in terms of fitness,” Masood added, acknowledging the physical demands of the longest format of the game.
Bowling strategy and fitness concerns
Masood also reflected on Pakistan’s bowling strategy and the challenges they faced during the match. He revealed that the team had opted for four fast bowlers in the first Test to manage the workload but suffered from injuries in the 2nd Test, which affected their ability to maintain pressure on Bangladesh’s batting lineup.
“We played four fast bowlers in the first Test, and the reason was we thought the workload would be too much for three people to manage. And that was proved in this game when we lost a fast bowler in each innings. I think even in this Test match, having just three bowlers and two spinners was less, we could have done with another pacer,” Masood explained.
Despite posting a respectable total of 274 in the first innings, Masood lamented the missed opportunities, especially after reducing Bangladesh to 26/6. “We should have done better from having them at 26/6. That’s something we need to work on and work on quickly,” he said.
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Improvements needed for the long season
While the defeat has raised alarms, Masood remained optimistic about the lessons Pakistan can learn from the match. He acknowledged the importance of improving fitness levels and better preparation, especially with a long Test and domestic season ahead, including the crucial series against England.
“It isn’t all doom and gloom, there are always learnings. We got Shaheen and Naseem back in the fold. Shaheen has played consistently for a year across formats, and we can’t keep throwing him in the deep end. But we need to get fitter, neater, and prepare better,” Masood concluded.
With tough challenges ahead, Pakistan will need to regroup quickly and address the issues highlighted by Masood to avoid further setbacks in their upcoming matches. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the team responds in the next phase of the season.
