Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has publicly addressed recent speculation about a reported altercation with fast bowler Shaheen Afridi. The incident was said to have occurred following Pakistan’s heavy defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test in Rawalpindi, sparking rumors of tension within the squad.
Reports of dressing room incident
Following Pakistan’s loss by 10 wickets in Rawalpindi, reports suggested that emotions ran high in the dressing room. Allegedly, Masood and head coach Jason Gillespie were unhappy with the performance of the bowlers, particularly Afridi, which led to a heated exchange. A video clip later surfaced online, showing Afridi pushing away Masood’s hand from his shoulder, further fueling speculation that a rift had developed between the two.
Shan Masood addresses rumors of altercation with Shaheen Afridi
Clearing the air, Masood addressed the speculation, dismissing any claims of a conflict with Afridi. According to Masood, the situation was misunderstood, and Afridi’s gesture was merely a reaction to physical discomfort rather than any disagreement.
“There wasn’t any argument with Shaheen Afridi. He was dealing with pain in his shoulder, and I unintentionally placed my hand on that very spot,” Masood clarified during a media interaction. He reiterated that there was no dispute between him and Afridi, emphasizing that the incident had been blown out of proportion by outsiders.
Also READ: Shan Masood reveals the reason behind Pakistan’s embarrassing loss against Bangladesh in the 2nd Test
Bangladesh dominates deries with 2-0 win
Despite the off-field chatter, Bangladesh dominated the series, securing a 2-0 clean sweep. After easily chasing a modest target in the first Test, they backed it up with another victory in the second Test, successfully chasing 185 runs with four wickets in hand.
This series result has dealt a severe blow to Pakistan’s hopes of making it to the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Currently, they find themselves in eighth place on the WTC points table, with just 16 points and a win percentage of 19.05. In contrast, Bangladesh has risen to fourth place with 33 points and a win percentage of 45.83.
Pakistan’s WTC future in doubt
With this defeat, Pakistan’s path to the WTC final has become significantly more challenging. The team will need to regroup and find form in the upcoming series to stay in the race. Both Masood and Afridi will play vital roles in the team’s recovery as they aim to overcome this setback and reignite their WTC campaign.
Also READ: PAK vs BAN 2024: List of overseas wins for Bangladesh in Test cricket
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