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NEW DELHI: Pakistan have never won a Test series in Australia but new skipper Shan Masood sees the upcoming tour Down Under as an opportunity to ‘change history’.
Masood, 34, was recently appointed skipper of the Test side after Babar Azam stepped down as captain across formats. The tough Australia tour will be Masood’s first assignment as a leader.
“When you have not achieved something in history, then you have an opportunity to change it,” he told a news conference in Lahore ahead of the team’s departure.
“So we will make an effort to produce positive results for Pakistan and for the World Test championship.”
Pakistan are on the top of World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle with wins in both Tests against Sri Lanka, while India are second and Australia third on the nine-team table.
But Australia are flying high after winning the last cycle of the championship and lifting the 50-over World Cup earlier this month.
The Test series starts with the first match in Perth from December 14, followed by Melbourne (December 26-30), and Sydney (January 3-7).
Pakistan lost both Tests by an innings margin during their last tour — a series Masood was part of.
“We need to score 400 and then take 20 wickets,” said Masood of what was required.
“We did not do that on our last tour in 2019, so that is the goal.”
Masood admitted Australia would be high on confidence.
“The positive thing will be to have the belief to play well, and all those playing contribute to give Australia some tough times.”
Masood insisted the tourists had prepared well for this series.
“We tried to replicate the Australian conditions in our training camp in Rawalpindi, which has a bouncy pitch,” he said.
He also hailed the appointment of former England skipper Adam Hollioake, who coaches in Australia, as the team’s new batting coach.
“Teams hire people who have local knowledge, and he is an expert of Australian conditions so his appointment will help us to apply ourselves in those conditions.”
He also backed his predecessor Azam to have a big tour, saying the team’s batting “will go around him”.
“We want to play the type of cricket that our fans enjoy — a good and fighting brand,” he said.
Masood, 34, was recently appointed skipper of the Test side after Babar Azam stepped down as captain across formats. The tough Australia tour will be Masood’s first assignment as a leader.
“When you have not achieved something in history, then you have an opportunity to change it,” he told a news conference in Lahore ahead of the team’s departure.
“So we will make an effort to produce positive results for Pakistan and for the World Test championship.”
Pakistan are on the top of World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle with wins in both Tests against Sri Lanka, while India are second and Australia third on the nine-team table.
But Australia are flying high after winning the last cycle of the championship and lifting the 50-over World Cup earlier this month.
The Test series starts with the first match in Perth from December 14, followed by Melbourne (December 26-30), and Sydney (January 3-7).
Pakistan lost both Tests by an innings margin during their last tour — a series Masood was part of.
“We need to score 400 and then take 20 wickets,” said Masood of what was required.
“We did not do that on our last tour in 2019, so that is the goal.”
Masood admitted Australia would be high on confidence.
“The positive thing will be to have the belief to play well, and all those playing contribute to give Australia some tough times.”
Masood insisted the tourists had prepared well for this series.
“We tried to replicate the Australian conditions in our training camp in Rawalpindi, which has a bouncy pitch,” he said.
He also hailed the appointment of former England skipper Adam Hollioake, who coaches in Australia, as the team’s new batting coach.
“Teams hire people who have local knowledge, and he is an expert of Australian conditions so his appointment will help us to apply ourselves in those conditions.”
He also backed his predecessor Azam to have a big tour, saying the team’s batting “will go around him”.
“We want to play the type of cricket that our fans enjoy — a good and fighting brand,” he said.
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