Shan Masood hopeful of a place in the Pakistan Test Team against Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan team is scheduled to tour the United Arab Emirates in September and October 2017 to play 2 Tests, 5 ODIs and 3 T20s matches against the Pakistan team. It will be a debut series as a skipper for the newly-appointed Test captain Sarfraz Ahmed, following the retirement of former captain and right-hander Misbah-ul-Haq.

The home series also provides the opportunity to the young Pakistani boys to showcase their talents. 27-year old opener Shan Masood is one such young talent, who has shown the ability to play for the national team in the longest format of the game.

Masood is quite hopeful of finding a spot in the Test squad against the Lankan lions. The left-hander made his last Test appearance for Pakistan during his side’s 2-1 win over West Indies in the three-match series – the farewell series for former captain Misbah-ul-Haq and veteran batsman Younis Khan.

The cricketer is currently training hard to remain fit for the upcoming challenges and to grab the eye of the national selectors ahead of the home series against Sri Lanka.

I have to tick the boxes

There are certain requirements that need to be fulfilled, before being selected in a national team which Shan understands. “I’m always hopeful. However, the team has its own requirements and the selectors have their own. If I tick all the boxes, God willing I will be in the final squad,” Shan said, as quoted by the Express Tribune.

“For a batsman, international conditions are much easier. It is harder to be a batsman in domestic cricket. If you perform in these [domestic] conditions, all you have to do is take the pressure of international cricket and apply yourself effectively,” added Shan on playing in overseas conditions.

Not in a Hurry

The opener is in no hurry to represent the national team across all formats of the game. He has been performing consistently in the domestic ODI cricket season in Pakistan.

“My domestic season in ODI cricket went really well. Over the year, I scored about 1,200 runs. Also, I played the last T20 competition. So I have set my focus on performing in the domestic circuit [in all formats]. Everything else in the hands of the selectors, but if the opportunity comes knocking on the door, I’ll grab it. However, I am in no hurry,” he concluded.

Shan’s young Test career so far

Shan Masood made his debut in 2013 against the visiting South African side. He played a gutsy knock of 75 runs in his debut innings against a quality bowling attack including the likes of Steyn, Morkel and Philander. The left-hander has played 10 Tests scoring 462 runs, including a hundred against Sri Lanka. However, because of his technical frailties, the opener has been in and out of the national team in his short span career.