Former Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad has trained guns at Test captain Shan Masood after Pakistan’s 104-run defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test of the two-match series.
Speaking during a TV programme, Shehzad questioned the basis on which captains are appointed in Pakistan cricket.
“If you’re going to appoint captains based on 30’s averages, then just make ‘good English speaking skills’ the only criteria,” he said, adding that maybe having a good personality or appearance could be added to the list as well.
“Maybe we can forget about actual cricketing ability.”
Shehzad went on to say that at this point, we should start teaching our children that if they want to become captain of Pakistan team, all they need to improve is spoken English. “Because apart from that, nothing else seems to matter anymore from a cricketing perspective.”
The loss in question came after Pakistan collapsed for 163 in their second innings, chasing a target of 268. Skipper Masood was dismissed for just two runs as Pakistan slumped to 21-3 early in the chase.
Nahid Rana’s career-best figures of 5-40 powered Bangladesh to the win, with the fast bowler dismissing Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan and Noman Ali in a devastating three-over burst after tea.
Earlier, Bangladesh posted 413 runs in their first innings, with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto scoring 101 and Mominul Haque adding 91.
Pakistan responded with 386, led by debutant Azan Awais’ century and half-centuries from Abdullah Fazal and Mohammad Rizwan. Bangladesh then declared their second innings at 240-9, setting a target of 268 for Pakistan.
The defeat pushed Pakistan to the seventh spot on the ICC World Test Championship rankings with 12 points from three matches. Bangladesh, on the other hand, moved up to the sixth slot with 16 points, recording their first win of the current WTC cycle.
The second Test begins in Sylhet on Saturday.
