RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Test cricket team captain Shan Masood on Sunday said the team members would have to show a positive intent across all aspects of the game for victory in the two Bangladesh Test matches and advance in the World Test Championship (WTC).
Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi on Sunday, Masood highlighted the necessity for Pakistan to win most of their remaining nine Test matches to remain competitive in the ongoing WTC cycle, which began in 2023 and will culminate in England in the summer of 2025.
“To be in contention for the World Test Championship, we need to secure wins, and for that, every department — be it batting, bowling, or fielding — must exhibit a positive intent,” Masood said.
Pakistan’s current WTC campaign has seen them win two out of five matches so far. The upcoming fixtures against Bangladesh, scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi from August 21 to August 25 and in Karachi from August 30 to September 3, are crucial for their campaign.
Addressing changes within the team management, Masood acknowledged that while there have been shifts in management, the core playing squad remains largely the same. He cited Pakistan’s successful Test series in Sri Lanka in 2023 as a model for their approach, where a shift in mindset and strong performances from both spinners and fast bowlers led to a decisive victory.
“Our core team is almost the same, and we are going to approach these matches with the same mindset that proved successful in Sri Lanka,” Masood said. “We are focused on bringing positive results for the country and are preparing diligently for the Bangladesh series.”
Masood also emphasized that Pakistan would not underestimate their opponents, Bangladesh, and stressed that the team’s preparation would be thorough. He noted that Pakistan has not played a Test match in the last 10 months, marking a significant gap since their last Test outing.
In a moment of national pride, Masood acknowledged the excitement surrounding Arshad Nadeem’s Olympic gold medal in men’s javelin and expressed the team’s commitment to delivering similar joy and satisfaction to the nation.
“We are motivated to give our nation something to cheer about, just like Arshad Nadeem’s remarkable achievement,” Masood said.
