Pakistan cricket is set to embark on a new journey with their upcoming Australia Tour, which kicks off with a Test match on December 14. Following a disappointing Cricket World Cup campaign, Pakistan cricket has undergone several changes. Babar Azam stepped down as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team, and Shan Masood was appointed as the captain of the Test team, while Shaheen Afridi took charge of the T20I team. Additionally, there were changes made to the selection committee of the Pakistan cricket team. The success of these changes remains to be seen.
During a recent press conference, Pakistan’s new Test captain, Shan Masood, was asked if he might be considered the proverbial “sacrificial lamb”. Masood responded by stating that he sees it as an opportunity to make a positive impact. He believes that when you haven’t done something before in your history, it presents an opportunity to bring about change. Masood expressed his commitment to achieving a positive outcome for Pakistan in the World Test Championship. He also acknowledged that captaincy and playing for the team are temporary roles, but emphasized the importance of relishing the opportunity, taking responsibility, and giving his best for the team.
In a recent development, Shan Masood’s contract was upgraded from category ‘D’ to ‘B’ by the Pakistan Cricket Board. This decision was made in line with the board’s policy that if a centrally contracted player below category ‘A’ or ‘B’ is appointed as captain, their contract will be upgraded to category ‘B’ for the duration of their captaincy. Masood, who was appointed as the Test captain on November 15, will lead the team until the conclusion of the ICC World Test Championship in 2023-25. The left-handed batsman has played 30 Tests and scored 1,597 runs.
The Pakistan cricket team has already departed for Australia, where they will face a three-match Test series starting on December 14 in Perth. Prior to the series, they will also play a tour match against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI from December 6 to 9 in Canberra.
It remains to be seen how these changes and the new captaincy will impact Pakistan cricket. The team will be eager to deliver strong performances and make a mark in the upcoming series against Australia.
Topics mentioned in this article: Pakistan cricket, Australia Tour, Shan Masood, Test captaincy, Shaheen Afridi, selection committee, World Test Championship, contract upgrade, left-handed batsman, Test series against Australia.
