RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s captain Shan Masood said the Pakistan cricket team need stability to build on Saturday’s historic victory over England, their first home Test series win in nearly four years.
The hosts wrapped up the final Test inside three days in Rawalpindi, securing a 2-1 series triumph and setting a positive tone after a challenging period for the national team.
Masood’s side had initially struggled, losing the first Test to England by an innings, but bounced back strongly in the remaining games, with spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan leading the charge.
Reflecting on the long-awaited win, a relieved Masood remarked, “Like London buses, they come together. The first win came after a long time, and it was backed up by a series win. It’s special.”
The series result is a significant boost for Masood, who has faced mounting pressure following a six-match losing streak, including a 2-0 series defeat to Bangladesh on home soil.
“For me, the biggest thing is progress,” Masood noted. “The Pakistan team needs stability at the moment. But when we think that changes are necessary to put the team on a winning track, we will do so.”
Pakistan’s turnaround was spearheaded by the exceptional spin duo of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who took advantage of local conditions to dismantle England’s batting lineup.
Noman claimed 6-42 and Sajid 4-69, helping bowl out England for a mere 112 runs in 37.2 overs. The pair, who were left out of the first Test, combined for a stunning 39 wickets across the second and third matches.
“Noman and Sajid were outstanding, like they were in the second Test,” Masood said. “To be here and standing as the winning team, it’s the most special thing for us.”
Their success came after England’s record-setting 837-run first-innings score in the opening match, which prompted the axing of star players Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi and led to a recalibrated team strategy.
Adding to Pakistan’s performance was a gritty century from middle-order batsman Saud Shakeel, who delivered crucial runs that bolstered Pakistan’s total and set up a manageable target for the final innings.
The Test concluded in style on Saturday morning, with Masood smashing a six off Shoaib Bashir to chase down the 36-run target in just 3.1 overs before lunch, sealing a historic series victory for Pakistan.
Masood underscored the sense of collective effort in the team’s triumph, saying, “People have grown in stature. It’s about the whole team and its spirit.”
Pakistan next play a two-Test series in South Africa in December.
