After a long, Pakistan is set to return in the longest format. From August 21, Pakistan is all set to face Bangladesh in a two-match Test series. After a while, Pakistan is set to play a home test series. Pakistan dropped their main spinner Abrar Ahmed before the first Test. Skipper Shan Masood defended the decision, citing Rawalpindi’s pace-friendly conditions despite criticism for removing a key bowler.
Shan Masood on Abrar’s Exclusion:
In Pakistan cricket, Abrar Ahmed is a star spinner. His action is impressive. Pakistan is all set to face Bangladesh side for a two-match Test series. Before that, the team management released the spinner from the squad. For the first time since their 2019 series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan has opted for an all-seam attack in the first Test, with all-rounder Salman Ali Agha as the only spin option.
After Abrar’s exclusion from the squad, the team faced immense criticism. Despite criticism for dropping their main spinner, Pakistan captain Shan Masood defended the decision, citing the pace-friendly conditions in Rawalpindi as the reason for opting for an all-seam attack.
Masood said, “In Rawalpindi, whenever we have played domestic cricket, the conditions have favored the seamers and the batters. Spin-bowling hasn’t been such a big threat. So we want to take what we do in domestic cricket forward rather than applying something new, which we don’t normally get in Rawalpindi.”
Masood’s Justification Over Mohammed Ali’s Inclusion:
Shan explained the choice to include Mohammad Ali instead of Mir Hamza, emphasizing the significance of each bowler’s role in the team. He highlighted how every bowler contributes uniquely to the team’s strategy and success, making this decision crucial for optimal performance.
He said, “If you look in isolation, you can argue why this particular bowler was preferred over another. We considered who could best support Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, who will hopefully take the new ball tomorrow. We believe Mohammad Ali is well-suited for this role. He hits the deck hard, can move the ball in the air with the seam, and has that extra pace. It’s not about one bowler being better than another, but rather about who fits the conditions best.”
Pakistan’s WTC Ambitions
After missing the finals in the last two WTC cycles, Pakistan aims to break the pattern and delight their fans by reaching the finals this time. The Pakistan skipper said, “I think you want your fans and media to write good things about the team. We want to play cricket that everyone enjoys watching. Obviously, it is a result-oriented business so you need to have results in mind.”
Later he added, “We were sixth and seventh before [in the WTC], but we would like to play in the final this time. We want to play finals. We have to win our home Tests. Our challenge is to play consistently and play an exciting brand of cricket.”
New Beginnings for Pakistan and Upcoming Goals:
Ahead of the series, Pakistan faces a major shift with Jason Gillespie coaching them for the first time. Skipper Shan Masood hopes the new staff’s approach will complement Pakistan’s strengths as they prepare for the first Test against Bangladesh.
While talking about this, Shan Masood said, “We have a different coaching staff,” he said. “They bring a different mindset and culture but we also have to look at where we have to go as a side. I think fast bowling has been Pakistan’s strength. We have six quality fast bowlers. You need 20 wickets to win a Test. That’s a non-negotiable.”
Later he added, “Our goal is to get those 20 wickets and then batters can back up the bowlers. That’s how we went into the Australia series, and that’s how we will go into this series.”
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