Shan Masood reveals strategy for Pakistan to secure World Test Championship final spot

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has outlined the team's approach for reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Pakistan started their 2023-25 WTC cycle strong, decisively beating Sri Lanka in a two-Test away series. Despite a valiant effort with a new-look team in Australia, they couldn't secure a win in their three Tests there.

Currently ranked fifth in the WTC standings, Pakistan has a busy schedule ahead, with series against Bangladesh (home, 2 Tests), England (home, 3 Tests), South Africa (away, 2 Tests), and West Indies (home, 2 Tests).

While speaking to media on Sunday in Rawalpindi, Masood emphasized the need for victories in the remaining WTC matches, which will require a proactive and positive approach in all aspects of the game.

“There’s a lot to play for in the World Test Championship. The top two places are yet to be decided, and it can still go with any side. If we need to compete in World Test Championship, we need to secure victories, which requires showing intent and positivity in every aspect of the game, whether it's batting, bowling, or fielding," Masood said.

"Our focus will be on achieving the best results for Pakistan. We need to win a significant number of the nine upcoming Test matches," he added.

A boost for Masood’s team is that seven of their next nine Tests will be played at home. He expressed confidence about the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh, starting August 21 in Rawalpindi.

"The positive thing is that we are playing at home and our players will be familiar with the conditions. We need to take advantage of it, but the key will be to handle mental and physical pressure," he added.

Masood also opened up about the PCB's recent coaching hires, including Jason Gillespie as the head coach and Tim Nielsen as the high-performance coach for red-ball cricket.

“The recent appointments of Jason Gillespie and Tim Nielson are an exciting opportunity for Pakistan cricket. Two experienced coaches have come in both white-ball and red-ball cricket for us, they were big players in their respective fields.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for us, as players, to get exposure to Gillespie, Nielsen, and Gary Kirsten [white-ball head coach].”