Test skipper Shan Masood lauds ex-captain Babar Azam; insists team is ready for challenge Down Under
Shan Masood lauds Babar Azam; insists team is ready for challenge Down Under
Pakistan’s newest Test captain, Shan Masood, is confident that his team will bury the ghost of the past with stellar performances this time against the Australians. The left-handed batter revealed Pakistan prepared intensively for the challenge Down Under and hopes to continue a good run in the latest World Test Championship cycle. Masood also lauded the former captain, Babar Azam, calling him a valuable part of the team's leadership group.
Babar Azam’s shock decision to step aside from all-format captaincy came following Pakistan’s below-par show in the recently-concluded World Cup, wherein they failed to reach the semis.
ALSO READ:Glenn Phillips under scanner for breaching ICC rule during day three of 1st Test against Bangladesh
Backing his team’s best batter to come good against Australia in Australia, Masood said, “I have a really good relationship with Babar Azam, on and off the field. We have a long working history as we have played together for a very long time."
"We have batted together in both in domestic and national-level cricket. Babar is a valuable part of the team’s leadership group, and his insight to the team is immeasurable, as is his batting,” Masood told reporters.
Preparation on point
In the latest WTC cycle, Pakistan won both Tests against Sri Lanka earlier this year, and Masood hopes for the momentum to carry forward.
)
Trump administration refunds $100 billion in tariffs after Supreme Court ruling
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
American blogger Perez Hilton, covered in blood, cuts himself during livestream, hospitalized after distressing incident
)
'I was almost trafficked in Paris,' says Australian woman, shares terrifying ordeal - 'I am on the black market'
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Pradeep Rawat died at 74: Revisit the unforgettable roles that defined his career
)
'Affront to our sovereignty': Bangladesh slams India over Sheikh Hasina's Delhi press conference
)
Ceaser Gastelum killed during TikTok livestream: What was his last recording?
)
Mark Zuckerberg apologises to Indian government over harmful content, platform errors amid PM video row
)
Sajeeb Wazed raises Indian security concerns, calls Bangladesh a 'failed state'
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Who is Shreya Kalra? Meet the social media star who lifted the Lock Upp 2 trophy
)
The genetic roots of Tamils: 75,000 DNA markers decoded in latest study of Sangam-era settlement
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why are iPhones so expensive compared to Android phones?
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
'Dhoni Made Fleming Great': Panesar says ECB made the wrong choice for England Test coach
)
Childhood home of Neil Armstrong up for sale | Gravitas
)
Ex top Pakistan official blames economic woes on China: Here's how CPEC became a failure
)
‘Pakistan called for ceasefire, we kept them waiting’: Ex-CDS Anil Chauhan recalls Operation Sindoor
)
Munir-protege Mohsin Naqvi’s claim of unearthing huge scam triggers tremors in Pakistan’s power corridors
)
Pentagon draws up new nuclear strategy in the event of war with Russia and China
)
What’s happening in Nepal? How did a local clash turn into communal violence? WION Decodes
)
Scientists find descendants of ancient sea creatures trapped under Antarctica's Blood Falls
)
Venezuela’s oil exports to India surge, restoring its role as a key energy supplier
)
Strait of Hormuz deal with Oman being ‘finalised’: Iran’s foreign ministry
)
CJP's Saurav Das alleges YouTubers broke into his house, seeks Delhi Police action
)
$1.3 trillion vanished from chip stocks in days and demand never fell
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian tanks are much lighter compared to US tanks
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Lock Upp season 2: Most dramatic and viral moments that kept fans hooked
)
Nvidia just put $5 billion into a company that has never shipped a product
)
'World's most beautiful village' with only 627 people generated Rs 58 lakh in traffic fines in 2025
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (August 3-9, 2026): Main Vaapas Aaunga, Uyir, Operation Safed Sagar- 6 titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Donald Trump calls Abdul El-Sayed a 'communist loser', seeks FBI probe into Michigan primary
)
Did military GPS jamming cause a plane to crash in New Mexico? Here's what a report says
)
Ghajini villain Pradeep Rawat passes away at 74 after battle with cancer
“The opportunity presented to us is exciting and challenging for us as a team. We have started the World Test Championship on a good note so far, and our goal is to continue that and hopefully play the final. We have prepared intensively,” Masood added.
Masood revealed Pakistan’s preparation is on point, with the team scheduled to face Prime Minister’s XI ahead of the three-match series starting December 14 in Perth.
“Other than the 18 players travelling to Australia, we added other players in the camp too, and we got help from specialised coaches to hone our skills. We will be practising in Canberra after we arrive in Australia, and then we have a match against Prime Minister’s XI, which is a solid side as well, so we are hoping that it will help us prepare for the three Test matches well,” Shan Masood concluded.
Pakistan’s 18-man Test squad for three Tests Down Under –
Shan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
