'Pak to end win drought against Eng'

KARACHI:

Pakistan captain Shan Masood on Monday backed Babar Azam to find his batting touch as his side look to end their win drought in the three-match Test series against England starting next week.

Pakistan have gone winless in 10 home Tests since February 2021, the latest humiliation being swept 2-0 by Bangladesh earlier this month.

They also lost 3-0 in Australia earlier this year.

"It's not acceptable for Pakistan to not win a home Test for that long and we accept the responsibility for that," said Masood at a press conference in Karachi.

"As a cricketing nation we all are hurt right now."

Masood was confident that batting great Azam would soon be back to his best after managing just 64 runs in the two Bangladesh Tests.

"We all know Babar is one of the top batters in the world and despite not scoring big runs the good thing is that he is not out of form, we have to back him," said Masood.

Azam has not passed fifty in Tests in 16 innings dating back to December 2022.

England arrive in Pakistan on October 2 with the first Test starting in Multan five days later.

The second Test is also in Multan from October 15 while the final match is in Rawalpindi from October 24.

"I assure you that everyone is eager to stage a comeback in this series and take Pakistan cricket in a good direction," said Masood.

England swept the series 3-0 when they last visited Pakistan in 2022.

"For me, pressure is a thing of privilege because leading your country is a great honour but with it comes responsibility," said Masood, whose captaincy tenure runs until May 2025.

"If results are good then I will serve, if not then I will be punished. I don't run away from challenges and this coming series is also very challenging."

The top-order batter acknowledged Pakistan's recent struggles, notably the disappointing results in the series against Bangladesh. "The losses hurt, but it's important to support the team, especially during tough times," he said.

Masood emphasized the need for continuity, believing that the team's long-term success depends on backing players through challenging periods. "It's easy to make changes after a loss, but if we want to move forward, we must back our players."

Reflecting on the team's overall fitness and preparation for upcoming tournaments like the Champions One-Day Cup, the 34-year-old admitted that recent evaluations highlighted the need for improvement. "We've learned a lot about our physical and mental condition, and it's clear that improvements are needed."

He emphasized that improving both physical and mental fitness is crucial for Pakistan to become a top Test side.

"If Pakistan want to become a top Test side, we need to significantly improve both physical and mental fitness. Our conditioning should be on par with other top teams in the world," he said.

Masood also addressed the return of Aamir Jamal from injury, confirming that the squad for the England series had been selected with fitness as a top priority. He added that Zahid Mahmood would be part of the pre-Test camp in Multan, but the final squad would be trimmed to 15 players before the first Test.

"For now, we've built the squad for one Test, considering the players' fitness levels. Meanwhile, If required, Zahid Mahmood would be brought into the squad," he explained.

Concluding his remarks, the left-hand batter admitted the pressures of professional sports but affirmed that every player is focused on achieving better results.

Pakistan squad for first Test against England: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zahid Mehmood.