'Will never question any player’s intentions' - Shan Masood opens up on match-fixing claims ahead of Bangladesh series

Ahead of the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, Pakistan's Test skipper Shan Masood has firmly rejected any notion of match-fixing within the current national team. The Men in Green are preparing to host Bangladesh for a two-match Test series, starting August 21, 2024, as part of the World Test Championship Cycle 2023-25.

The match-fixing has been a long-standing issue in Pakistani cricket, with the country's cricketing history marked by several high-profile scandals. Former captain Saleem Malik became the first cricketer to receive a life ban for match-fixing.

More recently, current T20I captain Babar Azam faced accusations from a senior journalist following Pakistan's disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup 2024. Masood addressed these concerns head-on.

“I will never question any player’s intentions. I don’t think there is anything that points towards match-fixing in the current Pakistan setup,” he said at the pre-series press conference.

Also read: Early Pakistan touchdown a blessing in disguise for Bangladesh

Masood, who took over the Test captaincy in November 2023 after Azam stepped down from his all-format leadership role, will lead a 17-member squad announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the home series. The team includes a mix of experienced players and emerging talents, with Saud Shakeel named as vice-captain.

The series is scheduled to begin with the first Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, followed by the second Test at the National Stadium in Karachi on August 30. However, the tour faces potential uncertainty due to political unrest in Bangladesh, which may lead to the rescheduling of venues or dates.

Also read: Pakistan announce 17-member squad for two Tests against Bangladesh

Pakistan 17-member team for two Tests vs Bangladesh 2024:

Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal (subject to Fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper) and Shaheen Shah Afridi