Pakistan’s red-ball skipper, Shan Masood, has emphasized the critical need for his team to make winning on home soil a habit if they are to become a formidable force in international cricket and realize their dream of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Speaking in a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) podcast, Masood highlighted the significance of home victories in bolstering the team’s chances on the global stage.
“We have yet to find the perfect approach to taking advantage of home conditions and winning,” Masood remarked. “Unless you can win at home, you cannot hope to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship.”
Masood was appointed as Pakistan‘s Test captain following Babar Azam‘s decision to step down after the team’s disappointing exit in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Retained as the red-ball skipper for the upcoming international assignments in July, Masood has taken the reins during a challenging period for Pakistan’s Test side.
Since international cricket returned to Pakistan in 2019 after a decade-long isolation, the team has struggled to assert its dominance at home. Australia and England have both comfortably won series in Pakistan, while the hosts also failed to secure a victory against New Zealand. The PCB and team management faced criticism for preparing flat pitches during the 2022-23 home series against Australia, England, and New Zealand, driven by a fear of losing rather than a desire to capitalize on home advantage.
Pakistan’s last Test series victory came against South Africa in January 2021, underscoring the team’s ongoing difficulties in finding the right formula for success on home soil.
“In Test cricket, which is the ultimate challenge in the game, you have to be familiar with certain conditions,” Masood explained. “Not having played at home for 10 years has created a void, and we are still trying to discover the winning formula. Yes, we’ve been playing at home since 2019, but other teams have been playing on their home soil for much longer. We still have to decide what our best approach at home is.”
Masood further elaborated on the need for Pakistan to identify their strengths in batting, bowling, and overall strategy that align with the conditions at home. “We still haven’t found our ideal way of playing at home that suits our batting, bowling, and overall style. That’s something we need to quickly figure out,” he said. “We need to determine how we can create conditions that suit us more and put us in the driving seat, rather than just thinking about how we can cope with the opposition.”
Supporting Masood’s sentiments, Pakistan’s red-ball head coach, former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie, expressed optimism that the upcoming home season, featuring seven out of nine Tests, would provide the team with the opportunity to refine their approach. “I think we still need to figure out exactly what surfaces we want to be playing on which gives us the edge,” Gillespie commented.
As Pakistan gears up for a busy Test season at home, the pressure is on Masood and his team to develop a winning habit on their turf. With the ultimate goal of qualifying for the WTC final, the team must quickly adapt to the challenges and capitalize on their home advantage to secure their place among the world’s top Test nations.
Upcoming Tests and Expectations
The upcoming Test series will be crucial for Pakistan as they look to turn their fortunes around. The home advantage is seen as a significant factor, and both Masood and Gillespie will be working closely to ensure the team plays to its strengths. The PCB has also indicated that pitch preparation will be a key area of focus, with an emphasis on creating conditions that favor Pakistan’s traditional strengths in spin and pace bowling.
With the WTC final in sight, the pressure is mounting on Pakistan to deliver consistent results at home. Masood’s leadership will be under scrutiny as he attempts to guide his team through this critical phase and build a legacy that mirrors the success of past Pakistani teams. As the team embarks on this journey, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Pakistan can rise to the occasion and secure their place in the WTC final.
Looking Ahead
Pakistan’s performance in the upcoming home Test series will set the tone for their WTC campaign. The team’s ability to adapt to conditions, manage pressure, and execute their plans will determine whether they can break their recent streak of home losses and establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
With seven out of nine Tests being played at home, this season represents a pivotal opportunity for Pakistan to regain their dominance and make a serious bid for the WTC final. The cricketing world will be keenly observing whether Masood and his team can rise to the challenge and turn their home ground into a fortress.
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