Shan Masood’s Struggles as Captain

Shan Masood is facing an exceptionally challenging period in his career. He has started his tenure as captain with four consecutive Test losses, a record that makes him the first Pakistani captain to begin with such a streak. The latest defeat is particularly crushing—Pakistan’s first loss to Bangladesh at home, on a flat pitch, despite losing half a day to rain, and by a margin of ten wickets with nearly a session and a half to spare. It’s the kind of loss that lingers on a captain’s resume.

After the defeat, Masood attempted to rationalise Pakistan's mistakes, though his explanations appeared somewhat disjointed, possibly due to the immediate aftermath of the shock. He mentioned that they selected four fast bowlers as a precaution against potential injuries, didn’t plan for a final-day scenario due to the weather forecast, and lamented that Bangladesh’s inside edges found the boundary while Pakistan’s hit the stumps. He also admitted they might have declared too early.

The double batting failure, however, is what will likely weigh most heavily in the final assessment. The most crucial factor in captaincy, particularly in Pakistan, is personal performance. A captain who scores runs quickly earns authority.

Misbah-ul-Haq’s experience is a case in point. When Misbah unexpectedly took over as Test captain, he had been averaging 33 in Tests and wasn’t even part of the team at the time. Masood, on the other hand, was averaging 28 when he replaced Babar Azam last year. Misbah silenced his critics with eight fifties and a century in his first 12 innings as captain. In contrast, Masood has managed a couple of fifties and some promising starts in his first eight innings, which has only intensified concerns about his Test batting. This inconsistency has been part of a longer, disappointing run—since his career-best 156 against England four years ago, Masood has averaged less than 19 in 13 Tests.

Masood’s career, marked by underachievement, has been shaped by his own performance and the unpredictable nature of Pakistani selection, leading to a sporadic Test career of 34 matches over 11 years. Ultimately, though, his record as a player and captain will define him. If he fails to score runs in Rawalpindi and Pakistan lose, both his captaincy and his place in the team could be in jeopardy. If he doesn’t score, but Pakistan win, he might gain a temporary reprieve. However, if he scores and Pakistan wins, the pressure might ease slightly—at least until England’s arrival.

This situation is unfortunate, as Masood has always shown a willingness to reinvent himself, learn, and improve. He made a commendable effort in his first series as captain, where Pakistan might have won their first Test in Australia in nearly 30 years with better catching. He was more proactive than Babar Azam, played with intent (though not for long enough), and maximised the output of a weakened bowling attack. If any captain could emerge from a whitewash with some credit, it was Masood.

However, in sports, credit is fleeting, and Masood may soon find himself at the end of the line.