I Have Started Playing Cricket More Freely In The Last Two Years - Shan Masood

Pakistan batter Shan Masood said he isn’t bothered about his future and wants to focus on the present. Masood has represented the Pakistan men’s national team in 25 Tests and five ODI matches since making his debut in 2013.

Masood hasn’t received enough opportunities according to the potential and enthusiasm he brings to the table.

Not worrying about the past and future has helped me: Shan Masood

The Multan Sultans batter has been on and off from the Pakistan Test side with his last appearance being against New Zealand in January 2021. The 32-year-old was part of Pakistan’s Test squad during the three-match Test series against Australia but warmed the bench in all three games.

“In the last two years and especially since October, I have started playing cricket more freely. I go out there and enjoy myself while not worrying about the past and future and that has helped me,” Masood told Cricwick.

“What I’m trying to do is take it a game at a time, a session at a time, just trying to stay in the present,” he added.

A lot of my development took place under Mickey Arthur: Shan Masood

Masood is currently leading Derbyshire in the T20 Blast 2022 in England and has been impressive for the county club this season. The southpaw has amassed 441 runs at 44.10 in 12 innings, striking at 140.89, with four half-centuries so far.

Masood credited Mickey Arthur, who was Pakistan’s head coach from 2016 to 2019, for turning him into a great player during his tenure.

“He (Mickey Arthur) spent three years in Pakistan and I would say that a lot of my development took place as he is 100 per cent honest, even if it’s brutal. That honesty comes from a very good place, from a place where he wants you to do better and expects you to do better,” Masood said.

With 478 runs in 12 innings, Masood was the third-most run-getter in PSL 2022 after his Multan Sultans skipper Mohammad Rizwan (546) and Lahore Qalandars’ Fakhar Zaman (588).

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