Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood has firmly dismissed any allegations of match-fixing within the team ahead of the Test series against Bangladesh. The rumors of discord and potential misconduct have been circulating since Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup. However, Masood was quick to address these concerns and emphasize the team’s unity and focus.
Allegations of Match-Fixing
In a recent press conference, Masood addressed a journalist’s question regarding the team’s integrity in light of Arshad Nadeem’s historic Olympic gold medal. The reporter pointed out that achieving national glory through fair play is far more rewarding than engaging in illicit activities like match-fixing.
Masood responded strongly, “I can’t question anybody’s intention as you used the word match-fixing. I don’t think in the current setup of Pakistan cricket, anybody’s integrity can be questioned. It’s something I don’t agree with at all.”
He stressed that the team’s focus is on moving forward and performing well in the upcoming series. “You can’t mix formats. The World Cup is in the past. This is a Test team. Even in the last series, we played good cricket but couldn’t win. Now, we have a good opportunity in the home series. We have to play our style of cricket and win matches for Pakistan.”
Read More: Shan Masood Aims To Inspire Nation Like Arshad Nadeem
Drawing Inspiration from Arshad Nadeem
Shan Masood also took a moment to praise Arshad Nadeem, hailing him as a national hero. He expressed his admiration for Nadeem’s achievement and shared his aspiration to bring similar joy to the nation.
“Arshad Nadeem is a national hero. His success has catapulted him to a greater stature, and we’re very happy about that. We’ll take inspiration from his success and hope to bring more glory to Pakistan.”
Bangladesh’s Early Arrival
As for the series itself, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 17-member squad for the Test matches, with Saud Shakeel being promoted to vice-captain in place of Shaheen Afridi. Young fast bowlers Naseem Shah is making his return to the Test team after a lengthy absence.
In response to the ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh team will arrive in Pakistan four days earlier than planned to better prepare for the series. The first Test is set to begin on August 21 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
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