Shan Masood shut down a journalist for showing disrespect after the latter suggested the Pakistan skipper did not have the freedom to make his own decisions about the pitch and team combination following a massive defeat against the West Indies today (January 27).
Pakistan have adopted a new method of playing on crumbling wickets following their Test defeat to England last year. Following that loss, which extended Pakistan’s streak to 11 winless games at home, the PCB revamped their selection committee, eventually dropping Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi from the remainder of the series.
There has been plenty of drama in Pakistan cricket since then: While on the field, the side won their next three games at home, the off-field headlines revolved around the resignation of Jason Gillespie, their red-ball coach. The former Australia quick did not travel with the team to South Africa after stating that he had been “utterly blindsided” after the PCB parted ways with Tim Nielsen, the high performance coach.
Pakistan’s defeat to the West Indies, the latter’s first win in the country in over 34 years, was their first defeat at home since the first Multan Test against England. They had won the last two Tests against England before clinching the first game against the West Indies, with the recent defeat also relegating them to ninth place in the World Test Championship points table.
Masood agitated by journalist's question
After the loss, Masood fronted up to the media but was left dismayed by a question by a journalist who wondered if the recent defeat was a result of “compromise” and asked when the captain would stand up to the PCB. The journalist hinted that the team selection for Pakistan, who have been announcing their XI before the toss of late, is being done by the PCB with Masood having a limited role to play.
The question was: “Last time when the team came here [Multan], Pakistan lost badly [to England]. Ahead of the second Test, matters became serious and we saw you compromising [hinting at the reduced role of Masood and the coaches after the defeat], which also resulted in the resignation of two coaches. Do you think the result today was because you could not make your own decisions? We finished the first WTC in sixth place, the second at No.7 and we are now last. Will you make your own decisions or will you wait for the Pakistan Cricket Board?”
Masood, who smirked midway through the question, was clearly miffed, as he said “Next question”, before giving a lengthy response. “Brother, see the way you asked about the last two WTCs, I have no answer to that. If you want to talk about facts, we can talk about facts, your information is completely inaccurate. Things don’t change by making changes to the team. We announced our team for the second West Indies Test the night before the game because we did not practice that day, it was an off day but we practised two days before that.
“Against England, after seeing the wicket, we had four to five days to prepare ahead of the second Test. We had full information and we thought that was the best possible XI according to the conditions. You have an opinion that I respect but you should also respect your players. The decision-maker is the PCB, whatever decisions they have taken, I personally, and all the players have accepted.”
He continued: “We play for the country and we are your people too. No one will tolerate being disrespected this way. Your question had too much disrespect. By voicing a question, you wanted to demean someone and you did, but we play for Pakistan. Whatever our efforts, it is to bring results for Pakistan."
Masood defends spin-friendly pitches
Masood also elaborated on the conditions, which were changed to spin-friendly pitches. “The conditions of the pitches that have been changed have been done to bring results for Pakistan. We have won three of the four games - the only loss could have been avoided if we had not committed the mistakes on the first day.
"So, if we are trying something new, putting effort into something and are ready to compromise and risk for it too, it should be appreciated. First, try to research and learn about what’s happening, then give your criticism.”
This is not the first time that Masood had a run-in with a journalist. After the defeat to England last year, PCB’s media manager had to step in after a journalist had asked whether Masood had thought of quitting his role following the string of defeats.
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