Mon Nov 04 15:06:09 UTC 2024: ## Pakistan Captain Backs Babar Azam’s Test Break, Focuses on Collective Success
Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood expressed his confidence in Babar Azam’s return to the Test team, suggesting the recent break will benefit the star batsman. Babar was dropped for the last two Tests against England after a prolonged lean patch. Despite the absence, Masood maintains that Babar remains “one of the best batsmen in the world” and possesses the potential to become a Test legend.
“He’s played a lot of cricket and gone through a lot, and he’ll always be one of the main batsmen to play for Pakistan,” Masood stated, adding, “This break will do him a great deal of benefit and he’ll come back a stronger player.”
While Babar was omitted from the Test side, he was immediately included in Pakistan’s upcoming white-ball series against Australia, indicating a temporary nature to his Test absence.
Masood also addressed the recent changes to the selection committee, emphasizing a collective approach to success. He highlighted the importance of focusing on the team’s overall performance rather than individual accolades. “I think it’s always going to be a collective thing,” Masood said, “I’d rather pass credit onto everyone else; it was a collective decision.”
He acknowledged the success of the new selection process, stating, “When we sat down together in our first meeting, we were on the same page. We said ‘we need to take 20 wickets, how do we take 20 wickets?'” The team’s recent victory over England was attributed to this shared vision and strategic planning.
Masood concluded by addressing a controversial post-match interview with commentator Ramiz Raja, stating that he does not hold any grudges. “There are no hard feelings from my side,” he said, emphasizing his willingness to engage with media and address any questions put forward.
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