New Delhi, India
On Tuesday (Sep 3), Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by six wickets in the second and final Test, in Rawalpindi, to inflict a humiliating series whitewash over the hosts. The Bangla Tigers had won the series opener, also in Rawalpindi, by ten wickets before making it 2-0 in the finale. With this, Test captain Shan Masood is under severe pressure, having lost all five games as captain since taking over the red-ball side. However, Masood brushed aside concerns of 'job security' after the Bangladesh series defeat.
At the post-match conference, Masood said, "I am not worried for my job security. I took this job to make the changes we believe will help this team. If I believe this team can go in a certain direction, even if my personal failure takes Pakistan in that direction, I will be content. However much time I get I'll be grateful for and do my best."
Masood took over from Babar Azam before Pakistan's tour of Australia last year, where they were whitewashed 3-0. Thus, he has yet to win a Test as captain.
Masood further explained how Pakistan can bounce back in Tests, saying they need to play more games and cannot turn up for red-ball challenge after playing T20Is.
'You can't prepare for science and then sit a maths exam'
He pointed out, "Bangladesh have two players who have played 70-90 Tests (Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahman), and Litton [Das] and Mehidy [Hasan Miraz] have played close to 40. We need the same level of red-ball exposure. Test cricket is the ultimate format of the game. You need experience. It's obvious we need more Test and red-ball cricket. Whatever format you play is the format for which you'll produce players."
"You can't play more T20 cricket and get Test players. You can't prepare for science and then sit a maths exam. If you're being tested for maths, you study maths. To play red-ball cricket, you must play red-ball cricket," he further added on the matter.
Masood signed off by lauding Bangladesh following their 2-0 win. He concluded, "We have to respect the opposition and Bangladesh's discipline was superior to ours in both Tests. We have to look at ourselves and the kinds of mistakes we made this series, and we made plenty. Test cricket, in terms of fitness, whether mental or physical, lasts for four or five days. What we've shown this series is that's something we need to work on."