India's veteran spin all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has bagged Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood amidst backlash for losing the home Test series to Bangladesh. Ashwin sees the potential in Masood and feels that it is hard for him to captain the side with Babar Azam being the poster boy for the sport in the nation.
"I feel terribly bad for somebody named Shaan Masood. I will tell you why. Shaan Masood is a very smart cricketer. I know that guy. He speaks a lot of sense. He can be a really good captain for Pakistan,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
"But handling a Pakistan cricket team at this point of time, where somebody like Babar Azam is not the captain and he is a poster boy for Pakistan, it cannot be an easy dressing room, right?"
Masood was named captain last year when Babar Azam relinquished the role in all formats following a dismal show in ODI World Cup 2023. Masood's first assignment as captain was tour of Australia. The left-handed batter’s side had their moments on Australian soil but faced a cleansweep in the three-Test series.
He has led Pakistan in five Tests and faced defeat every time. Pakistan’s next Test series is against England next month in home conditions. Pakistan have not won a Test at home for a long time. They have gone without a win at home for 10 Tests including four draws.
Ashwin in disbelief over Pakistan Test team’s state
Ashwin is stunned to see Pakistan's state as they have slipped to eighth in ICC Test Team Rankings and the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 points table. They are almost out of the WTC 2025 final race.
"Keeping all this aside, Pakistan cricket, to see where it is right now, it wasn't possible 10 years ago with Misbah, Younis Khan, even when they used to play in UAE. Back then, it was very tough to beat Pakistan, right? You had the likes of Yasir Shah, you had the likes of a couple of left-arm spinners coming in. All these guys, to where they are right now, I cannot believe it," the 37-year-old said.
Ashwin’s return to action
While Pakistan have struggled at home, India have not lost a Test series in home conditions since 2012. Ashwin has played a major part in India’s dominance at home. He will return to action in the upcoming home two-Test series against a spirited Bangladesh side starting September 19.
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