Pakistan skipper Shan Masood has firmly dismissed rumors of a rift between himself and star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi. These speculations arose after a video clip from the first Test against Bangladesh went viral, showing Shaheen brushing off his captain’s hand from his shoulder. However, Masood has clarified that there was no dispute between the two, emphasizing that Shaheen had politely removed his hand because his shoulder was sore after being hit by a ball while batting in the Pakistan innings.
“There are no issues between us and in fact only a certain part of the clip is around but if you see the full clip you can see Shaheen had his arms around my back,” Masood explained. He further asserted that Shaheen’s absence from the second Test had nothing to do with the viral incident.
“We had a good discussion with Shaheen and we told him he remains our best bowler and needs to work and find his best rhythm and form for us as we have a lot of cricket coming up this season,” Masood stated, highlighting that the decision was based on Shaheen’s current form.
Masood also dispelled suggestions that he was apprehensive about his future as Pakistan’s Test captain, emphasizing his commitment to leading the team. “I don’t think about these things because being made captain is a privilege and until I am captain my only focus is to take the team forward. There is no doubt that losing to Bangladesh two nil is totally unacceptable for us as well,” he asserted, acknowledging the team’s disappointing performance.
By addressing these rumors directly, Masood has aimed to clear the air and maintain focus on the team’s upcoming challenges. The Pakistani team will be looking to regroup and bounce back in the upcoming cricket season, and Shaheen’s return to form will be crucial to their success.
