Shan Masood Makes Ton In First Innings After Becoming Pakistan Test Captain
Shan Masood (Twitter)
Shan Masood celebrated his appointment as Pakistan's new Test skipper with a century in the first-class outing against the Australian Prime Minister's XI in Canberra ahead of the three-match Test series against the Aussies.
The elegant opening batter, who was surprisingly named the fresh captain after modern-day giant Babar Azam's decided to relinquish his all-format leadership post, came up with a resilient and skilful hundred versus a Prime Minister XI's attack on Day 1 of the four-day fixture organised to cater to the Test series preparations.
The attack involved multiple rising Australian first-class fast-bowling performers Mark Steketee, Nathan McAndrew, Jordan Buckingham and backup Test spinner Todd Murphy but Masood's steadfast defence and patience brought them down to their knees as he raised his bat for a much-deserved milestone.
Shan Masood Scores Century In PM XI's Game
For Masood personally, this would've been a special feat having arrived in his very first first-class innings for Pakistan after becoming the new Test captain and would've allowed him to garner greater respect inside the dressing room.
The skipper led from the front in trying circumstances to produce a quality red-ball hundred in his maiden outing since being appointed on the post. It was an ideal start to the tour for Masood, who was given the responsibility of reviving Pakistan's fortunes in a disappointing period.
On a day, when both Pakistan openers were sent back early by the PM XI's quicks, Masood joined forces with Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed, taking Pakistan's juncture to 5-287 after 80 overs. The Pakistan captain is batting on 137*, while both his predecessors got out in their 40s.
Pakistan are approaching the three-match Test series starting in Perth on December 14 after entering yet another overhaul on coaching, selection and leadership fronts following the disastrous ICC World Cup 2023 campaign, which forced Babar to call it quits. There is a weight of history also staked against the tourists for losing their previous 14 straight Test matches on Australian shores.
Since the turn of the century, Pakistan have travelled Down Under for five different Test series on five separate tours and have been whitewashed on each occasion. Masood's men will have to play out of their skins to resurrect the horrific track record in Australia against a side which hasn't lost a home Test since early 2021.
 "Kashish Chadha")
