Pakistan captain Shan Masood speaks throughout a press convention at Lahore’s the Gaddafi Stadium, October 11, 2025. — Screengrab by way of YouTube/Geo Information
LAHORE: Pakistan Take a look at captain Shan Masood on Saturday acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the behaviour of the Gaddafi Stadium pitch throughout a five-day recreation towards South Africa.
Addressing a pre-match press convention on the Gaddafi Stadium forward of the two-match Take a look at collection towards South Africa, the Pakistan skipper emphasised the significance of capitalising on residence situations to win video games and earn essential World Take a look at Championship (WTC) factors.
“It is very important to do well in all home Test series and one odd win in an away series in order to be better placed in the World Test Championship (WTC) table,” Masood stated.
The Pakistan skipper, nonetheless, conceded that it was tough to foretell how the newly-laid pitch would behave in a five-day recreation.
Masood acknowledged that his focus was on result-oriented pitches, versus flat surfaces that result in high-scoring drawn video games.
“We plan to get 20 wickets and wish to break away from the historically produced pitches in the country,” he stated.
The Pakistan skipper additionally expressed satisfaction along with his particular person batting efficiency through the earlier WTC cycle, saying that his efficiency was criticised because of the “accumulative failure” of the group.
Whereas the Pakistan captain remained tight-lipped concerning the Taking part in XI, he stated that the facet would possibly play two quick bowlers and as many spinners.
‘Spin situations a good problem’
South African stand-in captain Aiden Markram stated Pakistan had been properly inside their rights to organize excessive turning wickets for the collection, which begins on Sunday.
Their 2-1 collection win over England a yr in the past got here after they’d used a pair of big windbreaks, two outsized followers and 6 patio heaters to speed up the deterioration of the pitch and create a floor that supplied spinners most flip and grip.
It was a profitable ploy as they got here again from dropping the primary Take a look at to trump England in situations that dropping captain Ben Stokes known as “pretty extreme”.
However Markram, who leads South Africa instead of injured skipper Temba Bavuma, stated that was all a part of the problem.
“We saw how things turned out in the English series,” he advised a press convention. “That was obviously Pakistan’s way of trying to win, and it’s completely fair, and we look forward to that challenge.”
South Africa had labored arduous in getting ready, he added, creating wickets with excessive spin to follow on at a coaching camp earlier than their departure.
“That’s where most of the focus has been, naturally looking forward to the challenges that Pakistan pose in terms of spin-friendly tracks.
“As a group that is not uncovered to these situations, it is thrilling for us and a fantastic alternative to get issues proper in these situations. We’re making an attempt to place loads of the main target there, and finally put 5 days of fine cricket collectively for the primary Take a look at.”
Besides Bavuma, South Africa must do without their lead spinner Keshav Maharaj, who misses the first Test as he recovers from a groin strain.
“We’ll miss Kesh heaps,” Markram told reporters. “He is unbelievable, even when the ball would not spin, so it is a huge loss for us but it surely’s a chance for 2 or three different new spinners of ours to place their hand up and stake a declare, which is absolutely thrilling.”
Senuran Muthusamy and Simon Harmer, who final performed a Take a look at two years in the past, are prone to be within the group.
