"Selfish": Pakistan Captain Shan Masood Slammed For 'Awful' Declaration As Bangladesh Take Lead
Pakistan captain Shan Masood has come under the scanner after Bangladesh took a sizeable lead over the hosts in the first innings of the ongoing first Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel slammed centuries for Pakistan in the first innings, with the hosts looking in control of the proceedings. However, Shan made a rash declaration when Pakistan were 448/6 on Day 2, leaving Rizwan stranded on 171 not out. While the decision made a lot of sense after the opening day was cut short due to rain, Shan's call seemed to have backfired with the visitors taking a 117-run first innings lead.
Mushfiqur Rahim led Bangladesh's charge with a brilliant 191 after Shadman Islam had given the visitors a strong foundation with his 93. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, and Mominul Haque also hit a half-century each to give Mushfiqur a helping hand and allow Bangladesh to surpass Pakistan's first-innings total.
Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 565, but fans were quick to criticise Masood for his brain-fade declaration.
Here's how Internet reacted:
Happy now with the senseless decision pan Masood took Bangladesh lead by 47 runs and a session to go Pakistan in serious trouble now
Bangladesh 471/6
Lead taken
Pakistan Test bowling, plans & team combination badly exposed @tapmadtv #tapmad #HojaoADFree #PakvBan pic.twitter.com/lApMlvOj3H
Poor decisions taken by Captain Shan Masood as of Now :
1. Playing 4 fast bowlers
2.Not including Abrar Ahmed
3.Wrong time declaration ... Could have reached at least 530#PAKvBAN
Not only Shan Masood is below average batsman, he is aweful captain, timing of declaration was suggesting as if he wanted to himself bat in second innings to compensate his failure in first