'Spoke to him about grief' - Shan Masood reveals how 'heartening' conversation with Ben Stokes helped him

Pakistan won a Test series at home after almost three years when they defeated England by a 2-1 margin. Skipper Shan Masood broke the long-running jinx of not winning a series at home and it came at the expense of England’s defeat. Though ecstatic over the success, the Pakistan captain has revealed that he shares a warm bond with the England captain Ben Stokes. 

Masood revealed that after winning the T20 World Cup in 2022, Stokes had a hearty chat with him where the duo spoke about the personal losses with which they were coping at that time. While England's all-rounder Stokes had lost his father, Masood was grappling with his sister’s demise. Masood also wished that the ‘Bazball’ would beat India and Australia next year.

"England have everything in them to win a series there. I’m sure after a loss, the kind of determined people they are, and the kind of determined leader Ben Stokes is, they’ll be gunning for victory,” Masood said as quoted by Mail Sport.

"I spoke to him about grief. He’s been through a lot on a personal level. He lost his father, and I lost my sister around the same time. I asked him how he channelled his grief on the field, and it was very heartening,” he further added. 

Also Read: World Test Championship is a bit confusing: Ben Stokes

For the unversed, England are currently in New Zealand for the three-match Test series. In the ongoing first Test in Christchurch, they managed to post 319/5 in response to New Zealand’s 348. As a result, the visitors are trailing by 29 runs. Harry Brook and Stokes stood unbeaten on 132 off 163 and 37 off 76 respectively, and have put a 97-run stand for the sixth wicket at stumps on Day 2.