'Lower expectations': Pakistan captain Shan Masood on journalist's blunt query 'aap lead from front nahi kar rahe'

Pakistan captain Shan Masood on journalist's blunt query 'aap lead from front nahi kar rahe' (PCB Photo)

Pakistan captain Shan Masood was presented with a tough question during the press conference ahead of their World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 campaign, which began against current champions South Africa on Sunday.

The journalist fired a blunt question to Masood and in the process alleged that he has not been leading the side from the front. Masood, however, was quick to assert that he has been Pakistan's top-scorer in Tests and suggested the mediaperson to point out the numbers before asking such question.

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Here is the full exchange between the Pakistani journalist and Masood

Reporter: "Aapki apni performance ko leke kaafi baat ho rahi hai ki humare Test captain lead from the front nahi kar rahe. Uske baare main bata de (There is a lot of chatter about your own performance. The talk is that our captain is not leading from the front. Please tell us about it)."

Masood: "If you give me numbers, then I will answer this question. We are just repeating one thing. We are playing in such conditions where our priority is to take 20 wickets. We don't want to play on wickets where Tests are drawn. To excel in WTC, you must win matches. We need to lower our expectations when it comes to cumulative averages. If you look at the WTC cycle for the last period, I am among the top run-scorers for Pakistan. Unfortunately, the results haven't come, and we consider it a cumulative failure."

Shan Masood speaks about his performance in response to a journalist’s question#TOKSports #ShanMasood #PakvSa pic.twitter.com/6T37YQlQqP

— TOK Sports (@TOKSports021) October 11, 2025

Pakistan had finished bottom of the WTC table in the previous edition and are seeking for a revival in the new one.

Masood succeeded Babar Azam as Test captain in 2023 but has managed just three wins and in contrary has endured nine defeats. Under his leadership, Pakistan have endured whitewash against Australia, Bangladesh, and South Africa. But in the same period they have also stunned England at home.