Pakistan cricket is embarking on a brand new journey beginning with their Australia Tour, that begins with Test on December 14. After a disappointing Cricket World Cup marketing campaign, Pakistan cricket noticed many modifications. Babar Azam resigned because the Pakistan cricket staff captain. Shan Masood was appointed the Pakistan Test staff’s skipper and Shaheen Afridi was given cost of the T20I staff. Several officers within the Pakistan cricket staff choice committee have been additionally modified. How the experiment will bear fruit might be a matter of intrigue.

Pakistan’s new Test captain Shan Masood was not too long ago requested on whether or not he is likely to be made the proverbial ‘sacrificial lamb’

“Aapko Qurbani ka bakra banaya jayega (You will be made the sacrificial lamb)?” a reporter asked Shan Masood.

“Firstly, we see it as an opportunity. When you haven’t done something before in your history, then you have an opportunity to go out there and try to change it. So that’s what we’re trying to do, to get a positive result for Pakistan and in this World Test Championship,” Shan Masood stated at a press convention.

“And as far as being qurbaani ka bakra (sacrificial lamb) is concerned, the captaincy, playing as a player in the side, these are all temporary things at the end of the day. As long as you are in that place, or seat, you should relish the opportunity, enjoy it and try and take responsibility, and give your best ability to the team.”

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood’s contract was on Thursday upgraded to ‘B’ class from earlier ‘D’ by the nation’s cricket board, hours after the staff led by him left for Australia for a Test sequence.

The 34-year-old Masood was named Test captain on November 15 till the conclusion of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle, after Babar Azam stepped down, following Pakistan’s 50-over World Cup debacle in India.

“The PCB has decided to upgrade Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood’s category in the central contract list from D to B,” the PCB stated in a press release.

“The decision has been made in line with board’s policy that if a centrally contracted player below A or B categories is appointed captain, their contract shall be upgraded to category B for the tenure of their captaincy.”

The left-handed batter has featured in 30 Tests, amassing 1,597 runs.

The staff left for Australia on Wednesday night time.

The three-match Test sequence towards Australia begins on December 14 in Perth. The staff will play a tour match towards Australian PM XI from December 6-9 in Canberra.

With PTI inputs