"Have no complaints regarding unity" - Shan Masood dismisses reports of rift in dressing room ahead of PAK vs ENG 2024 Test series
Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has denied the notion that there is a lack of unity within the team, contrary to experts' and fans' observations. The southpaw revealed that he has always focused on keeping the dressing room atmosphere well as captain.
With Pakistan undergoing captaincy changes in the last 18 months, reports have emerged that Shaheen Shah Afridi and Babar Azam are at odds. It comes after the latter returned as T20I skipper after the left-arm pacer led only in one series. The national team suffering continuous losses have further led many to question if lack of team unity is the reason behind this.
Masood said to reporters in a presser, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo:
"Every captain has their own style. I focus on keeping the environment in the dressing room well; that is my primary concern. I have never seen a lack of unity or effort by the boys. There are some cricketing aspects to how we need to improve, but I have no complaints regarding unity."
Pakistan are coming off a humiliating 2-0 series loss to Bangladesh at home and will next host England. The Ben Stokes-led side inflicted a 3-0 sweep in their backyard in 2022 and will start as considerable favorites.
"He's the team's number one batter for sure" - Shan Masood on Babar Azam
With Babar struggling for runs for quite some time, Masood defended the right-hander by claiming that he has been getting starts. The 34-year-old feels Babar's form in the Champions Cup should be handy in the Test series against England. He stated:
"Babar Azam is among the world's best batters. You have to give your players time, not just Babar Azam. Babar doesn't look out of form, he's getting starts. There was a 10-month gap between the Australia and Bangladesh Tests, which doesn't help us.
"He played some long innings in the Champions [One-Day] Cup where he absorbed pressure and changed gears. That might help him in Tests now. He's the team's number one batter for sure."
The Test series against England begins on October 7 in Multan.