Pakistan batsman Shan Masood has spoken on the reason given by Babar Azam for his exclusion from the recently concluded ODI series against West Indies, saying he can bat in the middle order if needed and batting position does not define him.
Masood has been in superb form but could not make it to the national team’s squad, who have beaten Windies 3-0 just recently. The left-hander has responded to the reasoning provided by Pakistan captain Babar on Masood’s exclusion from the squad.
The 32-year-old has been in incredible form, currently playing for Derbyshire and leading the County Championship batting charts with 893 runs from seven games at an average of 89.3. He lit up the Vitality T20 Blast as well, scoring 287 runs from eight games at an average of 41 while striking at 150, including three fifties.
With such form on his side, several former players had backed him to be included in the limited-overs squad against West Indies. The skipper had explained the exclusion, saying Masood is a top-order batter and batting him in the middle order would be unfair on him.
Masood, however, said that an opener has the experience of dealing with the new ball, batting against spinners in the middle and teeing off at the end. He believes he has the game to succeed in any position, having played in the middle order in the Pakistan Super League.
“I don’t have an issue with the batting order. When I started playing domestic cricket, I played a lot of no.4. In the PSL, I played at no.3 when the team required. I played at no.3 in Tests as well,”
Shan told Cricket Pakistan.
He further added that he doesn’t want to be defined by a particular format or batting position and Pakistan requires him to bat in a different role, he would be ready.
“I don’t believe that a position can define you. I don’t want to limit myself in a format, as well as at a position. If Pakistan requires me to play at a particular number, I will. Playing for Pakistan is the biggest thing at the end of the day,”
Masood added.
The Men in Green clean swept West Indies, claiming the ODIs by 3-0 and bagging crucial 30 points towards the ICC CWC Super League.
