Australia are flying high after winning the last cycle of the championship and lifting the 50-over World Cup earlier this month.
The newly appointed skipper, Shan Masood, has set an ambitious target for Pakistan ahead of their upcoming tour of Australia – to rewrite history. Masood, taking the reins of the Test side following Babar Azam’s resignation after Pakistan’s disappointing World Cup campaign, sees an opportunity to change the narrative. Pakistan has never clinched a Test series in their 12 tours down under, facing 14 consecutive defeats in five-day matches. Masood, 34, expressed this determination at a Lahore news conference, highlighting the chance to make a significant impact.
“We have the opportunity to change history when you haven’t achieved something before,” Masood stated. The team currently leads the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle, securing wins in both Tests against Sri Lanka. However, Australia, flying high after their recent championship cycle victory and 50-over World Cup triumph, poses a formidable challenge in the upcoming Test series starting from December 14 in Perth.
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“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.”
“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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