Pakistan’s series-levelling victory: Shan Masood calls It “special”

MULTAN: Pakistan captain Shan Masood described their 152-run victory against England in the second Test in Multan as “special,” marking the end of a nearly four-year winless streak at home in Test cricket. This triumph, their first since defeating South Africa in February 2021, also marked Shan’s first win as Test captain, having taken over from Babar Azam late last year.

“I think the first one’s always special, it has come after some hard times, some rough times,” Masood said, reflecting on the team’s recovery from an innings defeat in the series opener. He praised the team’s effort, resilience, and commitment, saying, “You can’t doubt the effort of the boys… It’s come after some tough times, and it’s kept us hungry.”

Pakistan’s bold decision to drop Babar Azam and frontline pacers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi paid off as they opted for a spin-heavy attack. The strategy proved effective, with spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali taking all 20 England wickets on a turning pitch.

The win holds special significance as Pakistan looks to build momentum under Shan’s leadership after a period of inconsistency on home soil.