Pakistan's Test captain Shan Masood has pointed out the need for Pakistan to play more Test cricket as his team prepares for an unusually busy season of Test matches.
Pakistan's home season kicks off with a two-Test series against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on August 21. Following this, they will host five more Tests against England and West Indies, with an additional two-Test series scheduled in South Africa. This level of activity is a rarity for Pakistan, who last played more than seven Tests in a season over 25 years ago, during the 1998-99 season.
Masood highlighted that it’s not just the number of Tests, but the long intervals between them, that have hindered the team's progress. The upcoming matches against Bangladesh will be Pakistan's first since the New Year's Test in Sydney earlier this year. After the West Indies series in January 2025, Pakistan isn't scheduled to play any more Tests until October when South Africa visits, followed by another long break until a series against Bangladesh in March 2026. Masood pointed out that these inconsistent schedules have widened the gap between Pakistan and the 'big three' cricketing nations—India, Australia, and England. His concerns echo similar sentiments expressed by West Indies' Kraigg Brathwaite after their recent 3-0 series loss to England.
Masood, in an interview on the PCB podcast alongside Test coach Jason Gillespie, accentuated the importance of consistent scheduling to ensure continuous development. He explained that Pakistan plays a significant amount of domestic cricket, including at least ten first-class matches annually, and with the reintroduction of departmental cricket, some players now play up to 17 first-class matches in a year. However, he stressed that increasing the number of Test matches and reducing the gaps between them is crucial for the team’s progress.
Reflecting on his tenure as Test captain, which began last year when he replaced Babar Azam, Masood acknowledged the challenges ahead, especially after a tough series in Australia where Pakistan was whitewashed. Despite the setbacks, he believes the first step is to establish a strong record at home. Although Pakistan initially built a winning streak at home after Test cricket returned to the country, they have since struggled, failing to win a single Test in three home series since beating South Africa in January 2021. The series against Australia, England, and New Zealand were played on unresponsive pitches, a stark contrast to the livelier surfaces used when Tests first returned to Pakistan. With a new curator, Tony Hemming, in place, the upcoming season's pitch conditions will be closely watched.
Masood stressed that familiarity with home conditions is key in Test cricket, which he regards as the ultimate challenge in the sport. He admitted that despite playing at home since 2019, Pakistan is still figuring out the best approach that suits their batting, bowling, and overall strategy. He stated the need for Pakistan to create conditions that favour them and put them in control rather than merely coping with the opposition.
Pakistan’s intentions for the upcoming series against Bangladesh are clear, as they have included several fast bowlers in the squad and only one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed. This decision is partly due to the lack of spinning options—both Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan have been dropped—but also reflects a strategy that previously worked well against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. However, when Pakistan relied on spin against Australia, England, and New Zealand, they struggled.
Gillespie echoed Masood's sentiments, stating that while Pakistan has shown resilience in challenging conditions, the team is still in the process of establishing its identity, especially when playing at home. He noted that with seven of the next nine Tests being played in Pakistan, this is an opportunity for the team to solidify their approach. Gillespie also mentioned that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is exploring ways to increase opportunities for their players, including more Shaheens (Pakistan A) games and four-day cricket, to bridge the gap between domestic and international levels.
The upcoming season has already raised concerns about workload management. Several key players, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah, were not granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to participate in overseas leagues. Gillespie acknowledged the challenges of balancing the demands of playing for Pakistan with the financial opportunities available to players in various leagues. He stated that while the priority is representing Pakistan, the PCB will consider allowing players to participate in other opportunities on a case-by-case basis, provided it doesn’t compromise the team.