"Handling Pakistan when Babar Azam isn't the captain isn't easy"- Ravichandran Ashwin on Shan Masood
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Veteran India offspinner has come out in support of Shan Masood amidst the backlash after Pakistan's poor performance recently. After Pakistan's shocking series defeat against Bangladesh, skipper Shan Masood's captaincy came under the scanner.
Pakistan has a great Test record over Bangladesh and had not even lost a Test match before this series. But they lost both the Tests in the series to give Bangladesh a historic occasion in their Test cricket history.
Ravichandran Ashwin backs Shan Masood amidst Pakistan's poor Test performance
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin spoke about Pakistan's recent performance against Bangladesh. Ashwin also expressed his views on Shan Masood's captaincy and backed him for the leadership role in Pakistan.
"I feel terribly bad for somebody named Shan Masood. I will tell you why. Shan Masood is a very smart cricketer. I know that guy. He speaks a lot of sense. He can be a really good captain for Pakistan,” Ashwin said.
However, the 37-year-old spinner also claimed that leading Pakistan is not easy and it will not be an easy dressing room.
"But handling a Pakistan cricket team at this point in time, where somebody like Babar Azam is not the captain and he is a poster boy for Pakistan, it cannot be an easy dressing room, right?" he added.
Shan Masood's captaincy record for Pakistan
Shan Masood replaced Babar Azam as Pakistan's captain in Test cricket last year. His first assignment as captain was Pakistan's Test series against Australia in which the Men in Green were whitewashed 3-0 by the home side.
Since Pakistan lost both the Test against Bangladesh, Shan Masood is yet to taste a win as the captain of the side. As a result, the left-hander has lost all five matches as a Pakistan captain so far.
Shan Masood's next assignment will be the Test series against England in October where he will lead Pakistan in a three-match Test series. It will be a stern test for Masood and Pakistan as they face a strong England side which is in great form right now.
Ravichandran Ashwin speaks on Pakistan cricket
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin also expressed his disbelief over the state of Pakistan cricket. He felt that it was difficult to beat Pakistan some years ago when Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, and Yasir Shah were playing but it is not the same case now.
"Keeping all this aside, Pakistan cricket, to see where it is right now, wasn't possible 10 years ago with Misbah, and Younis Khan, even when they used to play in UAE. Back then, it was very tough to beat Pakistan, right? You had the likes of Yasir Shah, you had the likes of a couple of left-arm spinners coming in. All these guys, to where they are right now, I cannot believe it," the offspinner added.
Ravichandran Ashwin will be in action against Bangladesh in a two-match Test series. Ashwin hasn't played much cricket recently and has played the TNPL 2024 where he led Dindigul Dragons to a title win.
The first Test of the series between India and Bangladesh will be played in Chennai while the second one will be played in Kanpur. The series will begin on September 19. After the Tests, both teams will face each other in a three-match T20I series.
