Rawalpindi: After a challenging start as the Test captain of Pakistan’s cricket team, Shan Masood has led his team to a series win against England, marking a significant turnaround following six consecutive defeats. This victory in Rawalpindi not only represents Masood’s first win as captain but also a strategic triumph for Pakistan, ending a series of losses that included a 3-0 whitewash by Australia and a 2-0 defeat to Bangladesh.

According to International Cricket Council, Masood, who took over captaincy duties from Babar Azam in 2023, faced considerable challenges, including a demoralizing start against Australia and subsequent defeats. However, the series against England marked a critical strategic shift that brought Pakistan back to winning ways, clinching the series 2-1 after a first Test loss.

The pivotal moment came when Pakistan overhauled their strategy by preparing spin-friendly pitches and bringing in spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who became instrumental in the team’s success. Their exceptional performance claimed a combined total of 39 wickets in the last two Tests of the series, proving the effectiveness of Pakistan’s revised tactics.

Reflecting on the series win, Masood emphasized the team’s collective effort and strategic shift: “When we lost the first match, we sat down and discussed how we can make a team that can get us 20 wickets,” Masood noted. He praised the new selection committee’s role in this strategic pivot, which involved a significant shift towards spin bowling, capitalizing on the conditions favorable for spinners in Multan and subsequent matches.

Noman Ali, alongside Sajid Khan, expressed satisfaction with their performances, which were crucial in securing the series. “We are glad that we got conditions like these; we got the opportunity, and we won the series,” Noman stated at the post-series press conference.

Despite their recent victory, Pakistan remains seventh in the World Test Championship standings with a points percentage of 33.33. Looking ahead, Pakistan faces further challenges with an away series against South Africa and a home series against the West Indies scheduled for early 2025.

This series win not only brings relief and a sense of accomplishment to Masood and his team but also instills hope for Pakistan’s future performances in the challenging landscape of international cricket.