PAK vs ENG: Shan Masood opens up after Pakistan’s historic Test series win over England

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Pakistan’s red-ball captain, Shan Masood, has expressed pride and gratitude after leading his team to a memorable 2-1 home Test series triumph over England. The series finale in Rawalpindi saw Pakistan dominate as they secured a resounding nine-wicket victory.

The visitors, resuming their innings at 24/3, struggled against Pakistan's relentless bowling attack, with Noman Ali and Sajid Khan wreaking havoc. England’s lineup folded for just 112 runs, leaving Pakistan with a mere 36-run target, which the hosts chased comfortably to clinch the series in style.

Speaking at the pitch-side studio, Masood highlighted Pakistan’s strong first-inning performances and the importance of a balanced approach in all formats.

"We have scored good first innings totals which allowed us to set the Test matches from Sydney to now. The thing is how we take 20 wickets, this is not an accusation against the bowlers. This is just non-negotiable that we take 20 wickets to win the game," Masood said.

Reflecting on the team’s young opening partnership, the top-order batter expressed confidence in Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub’s potential but urged patience.

"We have a young opening partnership of Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub and we need to give them time. Ramiz bhai can tell you as well that opening in Tests is very tough," he said.

The 35-year-old also underscored the significance of building a team capable of competing in diverse conditions.

"We need a side that can play in any conditions. For example, if we play someone like Sri Lanka, we cannot make such wickets," he noted.

In addition, the left-hand batter praised spinner Sajid Khan, who delivered a standout performance despite sustaining a chin injury that required eight stitches. Khan’s determination earned him the Player of the Series title, finishing with 19 wickets and 72 runs.

“At the end of the day, it’s about character—people you can trust, who can bleed for you. Sajid literally bled for us yesterday,” Masood stated proudly.

In a heartfelt message, Masood dedicated the victory to Pakistan’s fans.

“We would like to dedicate this to the people of Pakistan. They’ve been through a lot, especially cricket-wise. I hope this can put smiles on people’s faces, and I hope we can have fuller houses in the future,” he said.

Masood also extended gratitude to England’s team, expressing hopes for more extended series.

“Thank you to the England cricket team. Pakistan-England series are always great, so we hope we play England more and more and we play more than 3 Test matches, we play 5 Test matches soon,” he concluded