Shan Masood Defends Abdullah Shafique's Performance

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has defended struggling opener Abdullah Shafique, arguing that Shafique's early career statistics are superior to those of Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli. Despite Shafique averaging only 24.05 over his last 19 innings, including a solitary 201-run performance against Sri Lanka, Masood highlighted that Shafique's overall average after 19 Tests stands at 40.35 compared to Kohli's 37.19 at the same stage. This defense comes amid pressure on the Pakistani team after losing five consecutive matches, raising concerns about their chances in the World Test Championship. Masood faced tough questions regarding player selection during a press conference, especially calls for Kamran Ghulam to replace Shafique. While acknowledging that Pakistan's performance has been subpar in 2024, Masood emphasized the need for objective analysis rather than mixing formats when evaluating player form. The upcoming Test series against England, starting October 7, will be crucial for both Masood and Shafique.