Shan Masood Defends Pakistan’s Use of Spin-Friendly Tracks

Pakistan captain Shan Masood has come out in defence of the team’s decision to play on spin-friendly pitches following their dominant 127-run win over the West Indies in Multan.

The first Test in Multan ended in less than three days, marking it as the shortest-ever completed Test with a result in Pakistan’s cricketing history. Pakistan, after dismissing the West Indies for just 137 in their first innings, took a commanding 93-run lead. The Windies faltered again in the second innings after being set a challenging target of 251 runs for a potential victory—their first win on Pakistani soil in 35 years.

A Strategy That’s Paying Off

This heavy reliance on spin bowlers is not new for Pakistan. The team’s approach to preparing spin-friendly pitches began during their series against England last year. Despite initial criticism, the decision to play on dry, spin-friendly wickets paid off with a resounding win in the second Test of the series. Since then, the pitch strategy has been a key part of Pakistan’s success, with all 60 wickets in their last three home Tests falling to spinners.

Pakistan has found a formula for success after a challenging period, including a streak of 11 winless games. Shan Masood, who captained the team during a series loss to Bangladesh, defended the tactic. “We will do what we need to do to take 20 wickets and win the match,” said Masood. “We don’t even play domestic cricket in these conditions. It’s new for us as well, but we changed it during the England series because we wanted to win. We should appreciate the hard work of our bowlers, who consistently took 20 wickets.”

Batting Flexibility

While Pakistan’s spin bowlers have thrived, the batting has seen fewer individual milestones. Only two Pakistan batsmen have scored centuries in the past three home Tests, and Saud Shakeel is the only batter with an average over 35 in that period. However, Shan Masood urged for flexibility in how the team’s performances are assessed.

“We can’t pit our bowlers and batters against each other,” he explained. “If you look at individual batters, it doesn’t make for good reading. But our batters performed better than the West Indies and better than England’s batters in October. If you judge them purely by hundreds and fifties, it will be misleading. We’ve sacrificed individual milestones for team success.”

Shan Masood also pointed to India’s success in home conditions, suggesting that conditions that favour spinners make it hard for batters to score big. “Look at India’s blueprint and their home averages,” Masood added. “When conditions are flat, getting 20 wickets is hard. We’ve sacrificed individual achievements for the bigger picture.”

Future Plans and Adaptation

When asked if Pakistan will continue preparing spin-friendly pitches, Shan Masood said, “There will be times when we feel the need to prepare seam-friendly wickets, especially against certain oppositions. In such conditions, our fast bowlers will get the chance to shine, just like the spinners did here.”

A Strategic Approach

Under Shan Masood’s leadership, Pakistan is finally not only building a team capable of thriving in home conditions but also adapting its strategy to different playing environments. As the team continues its journey in the next WTC cycle, its adaptability will be crucial for future success—whether in spin-friendly or seam-friendly conditions.